Here’s a convenient timeline about the history of the Rosendale Cement District from the 19th century on.
Rosendale Natural Cement was used in the construction of some of the most enduring landmarks of the nation. The Brooklyn Bridge, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, the wings of the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, Grand Central Terminal, the Croton Aqueduct and dams, the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels, the New York State Thruway, and thousands of other public works projects all got their start in the mines of Rosendale, New York.
Within the 32-square-mile belt of limestone between High Falls and Kingston, it was often said that just as much went on underground as above ground. Exciting, adaptive uses of the mines have included mushroom cultivation, trout farming, water supply, and records storage.
Among the many structures which used Rosendale cement are:
- Hudson River Railroad Tunnels (New York, NY)
- Smithfield Street Bridge (Pittsburgh, PA)
It should be noted that the term “Rosendale cement” was sometimes applied to “natural” and/or “hydraulic” cement from areas other than Rosendale, NY.
A more detailed history is available on the Registration Form for the nomination of the Snyder Estate Natural Cement Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
Historical and geological research is currently being conducted by Kurtis C. Burmeister of the University of The Pacific.
