Martin Van Buren National Historic Site

Its certainly possible to make the case that Martin Van Buren was one of the most important American political figures of the first half of the 19th Century. The man conceived and constructed the Democratic Party and, with it, the Second Party System, which defined and held the country together between the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Later, the decision of the ultimate party man to accept the nomination of the Free Soil Party in 1848 must have stunned his contemporaries. At the outset of... Read Full Story

The Clouds and skies are gray, as the wind blows cold, the trees have much to say. When the old house settles, the floors of the wood creeks, the birds and the wind chimes the night. Out in the distance the alarm's are loud, the sounds of an Amtrak train roars to life, in the shadow of an old town, the people are kind and wave. With ah sudden ring of an old chruch bell, all is quite and the day is gone. "the life of Mattawan,Michigan" Van Buren County was formed by an act of the Legislative... Read Full Story

Martin Van Buren’s Liberty First Spouse gold coin and a bronze medal replica are now available from the United States Mint. The 1/2-ounce gold proof and uncirculated versions are priced at $549.95 and $524.95, respectively. Both have a face value of $10, are composed of 24-karat gold, and have an overall mintage limit of 40,000. A bronze medal bearing the likeness of Van Buren’s Liberty coin is also available for $3.50. Dubbed "The Red Fox of Kinderhook" for his red hair, political... Read Full Story

Having recently referred to "[t]he hothouse of politics in New York during the first half of the Nineteenth Century," I was amused to run across the following: The complexity of New York State politics during its whole history has been often a matter of comment. Particularly during the first half of the nineteenth century it was the despair of the most competent observers. William Allen Butler, writing in 1862, declared that it had "always been a vast deep," and his judgment was echoed by... Read Full Story

Officials today joined with a hometown crowd at Kinderhook Cemetery in Kinderhook, N.Y., to honor President Martin Van Buren on the anniversary of his birth and ceremoniously release the eight Presidential Dollar coin. Van Buren was the first U.S. president born in America and spent his youth in Kinderhook.   "Many Americans are not aware of Van Buren’s legacy," U.S. Mint Deputy Director Brunhart said. "He was a self-made man, who rose from humble beginnings to become our Nation’s... Read Full Story

Martin Van Buren Presidential $1 coins will be sold on Thursday, November 13, the United States Mint said Monday. The final Presidential Dollar for 2008 will be available in 25-coin rolls for $35.95 and in 250-coin bags for $319.95, with either the Philadelphia, "P", or Denver, "D", mintmark. Dubbed “The Red Fox of Kinderhook” for his red hair, political acumen and birthplace in New York, Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States. America was prosperous when Van Buren... Read Full Story

It was easy to miss the release of the eight Presidential $1 coin last week given all the buzz with the U.S. Mint’s clearance sale and its announcement to drastically cut coins from its 2009 numismatic portfolio. The final 2008 Presidential Dollar honoring Martin Van Buren went into circulation on Wednesday, November 13.   "Martin Van Buren rose from humble beginnings to become an influential politician through hard work, an attribute that exemplifies the American spirit," said... Read Full Story

The ceremonial launch of Martin Van Buren Presidential Dollars will take place on Friday, the U.S. Mint said in an advisory to the media and public. The coins were released into circulation in mid November, but the Mint delayed the traditional public ceremony it conducts for new coins to coincide with Van Buren’s birthday on December 5. The launch is part of the annual wreath laying ceremony celebrating Martin Van Buren’s birthday at the Kinderhook Cemetery in Kinderhook, New York... Read Full Story

Born in New York in December of 1782, Martin Van Buren holds the distinction of being the first president to be born in a newly independent Nation. He is the fourth and final president to be honored on Presidential $1 coins for 2008. To celebrate Martin Van Buren’s presidency, the United States Mint releases the bulk of the individual products featuring his portrait on Monday, October 27, at 12:00 Noon ET. The products include the $1 Coin Cover, Individual Proof Coin, Presidential $1... Read Full Story

Born on this Day-The Wife of Martin Van Buren (My Favorite Unknown President) (From Official Web Site) Cousins in a close-knit Dutch community, Hannah Hoes and Martin Van Buren grew up together in Kinderhook, New York. Evidently he wanted to establish his law practice before marrying his sweetheart--they were not wed until 1807, when he was 24 and his bride just three months younger. Apparently their marriage was a happy one, though little is known of Hannah as a person. Van Buren omitted... Read Full Story