The Amazing History of Oswego, New York
An informative journey through the incredibly exciting storied past of “The Land of the Six Nations”. A journey that is sure to leave the reader in awe of the remarkable history of Oswego, New York.
Created by Michael J Colasurdo 
For the knowledge of our proud heritage, for those today and future generations.
WELCOME
Artist Rendition – The Battle of Oswego 1814 War of 1812
On the following pages you will discover an abundance of articles that have been created by accredited researchers, authors and historians. I have acknowledged each of them on the pages of their work. To each of them we are thankful for their tireless efforts and their wonderful contributions to the historical events as they have unfolded throughout the remarkable history of Oswego, New York.
I would like to offer a very special thank you to Oswego’s own pictorial historian “Mr. Art McManus” for the many wonderful pictures he has so graciously provided that are presented throughout this web site. See the web page {Pictorial Journey of Oswego.}
It is my great hope that this web site will serve as a source of historical information and will assist in the preservation of the history of this remarkable community at the mouth of the Oswego River on the shores of southeastern Lake Ontario.
- The name “Oswego” – Was derived from the Iroquoian word “Osh-we-geh” meaning {A pouring out place} I.E. {A rivers mouth}. Source: http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/434556/Oswego
FORWARD
While driving along route 481 North, after passing through the small town of Fulton N,Y, you will see on your immediate left the historic Oswego River. For thousands of years the Iroquois would paddle their dugout and white birch-bark canoes along this river that flows to its end in Lake Ontario. These early native American dwellers of this land would glide peacefully over the glass like waters reflecting thousands of fall colors blended together in perfect harmony on the glimmering mirrored like surface of the legendary Oswego River that is the water shed for the Finger Lakes, it winds its way through the majestic land and over its waterfalls on its never ending journey to the great Lake Ontario.
1778 painting of the Oswego River 
It has been determined through archaeological study that the native Iroquois Indians dominated this land called {The Land of the Six Nations} for as far back as ten thousand years, long before the white man ever made a foot print on this remarkable land.
However, soon after the white man arrived, the land was forever changed. There were many bloodied battles that were provoked through the desire to take control of the Oswego River, its shores and surrounding land along with the native Iroquois Indians birth rights.
Until the mid 1600{s} the region was dominated exclusively by the Iroquois Indians. Surprisingly, today only 1% of the people living in Oswego County are native American Indians.
During the late 1700{s} and 1800{s} there was the massive migration of the white man that brought the great expansion of industry on the highly coveted banks of the Oswego River that would provide the water and the power needed to run these highly productive milled factories.
While experiencing ones own incredible journey through the amazing past of Oswego’s history, I can only hope that people will find themselves as overwhelmed as I was during my own discovery of the events of the past through the abundance of incredible historical information provided within these pages. This will be an exciting journey that I believe is certain to leave the reader in awe of Oswego’s historic and remarkable past.
A VITAL WATER PASSAGE
Oswego has always been highly coveted because of the Oswego River and its inland waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern seaboard to the interior of New York and the Great Lakes via the Oswego, Oneida, Mohawk and Hudson waterways. The Oswego River has been a strategic location, its powerful water-flow has been the source of energy that has attracted much industry in the past. For these reasons, the mighty Oswego river and its river banks have been a coveted area for a very long time. These factors were the motivation for its dominance and control that led to many wars and horrific amounts of bloodshed.
It is my hope that visitors to this web site will enjoy the user friendly structuring in its presentation, I am equally confident they will be amazed during their discovery of the remarkable history of this legendary land and its inland waterway. This remarkable area has been the inspiration for such great authors as James Fenimore Cooper. Cooper lived on West Second Street, Oswego, approximately where Fort Oswego was originally erected on the rivers west bank in 1727. Cooper, while serving as a commissioned naval officer in 1809 – 1812 was stationed in the furthest northern frontier outpost of Oswego. During this period Cooper did much of his research that would be the basis for two of his greatest works of art, the best selling novels The”Last of the Mahicans” and “The Pathfinder” that he would write many years later and which both of those extraordinary creations would become award winning novels and movies that have achieved international acclaim and lasted throughout the ages weathering the greatest test of all… the test of time.
It is my great wish that the visitors to this web site will return often and share it with others to indulge in Oswego’s remarkable history.. Oswego, New York has been the site of many historical events that have been a major influence in the development of this great nation that have taken place time and time again on its lake shores and river banks.
It would be greatly appreciated if after the visitors indulgence of these pages that they would take a brief moment to leave a short comment describing their experience and discovery of the storied past of Oswego, New York.
Thank you and enjoy this storied history of Osh-we-geh and the Land of the Six Nations.
