First settled in 1683, White Plains was the site of the Battle of White Plains, fought in 1776. Following the retreat of George Washington's Army northward from New York City, British General William Howe landed troops in Westchester County, intending to cut off Washington's escape route. Washington retreated, establishing a position in White Plains, but Howe's troops drove Washington from Battle Hill near the city.
For outdoors: Bicycle Sundays are a beloved summertime tradition since 1974. Every year, from May to September, more than 60,000 participants bike, walk, or jog the Bronx River Parkway starting at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. For those looking for a little R&R with Mother Nature, Saxon Woods Park boasts 700 acres of recreational facilities, including an 18-hole golf course, mini-golf course, swimming pool and trails for hikers. Nearby in Valhalla, travelers and locals alike love visiting Kensico Dam Plaza, featuring an impressive stone dam 307 feet high and 1,843 feet long, as well as "The Rising" September 11 Memorial. The Plaza is also frequently used as an event space for summer concerts and markets.
The City of White Plains has:
- With Bloomingdales, The Westchester (featuring the only Neiman Marcus within 90 miles) and The City Center, White Plains is a shopping mecca.
- ArtsWestchester Gallery
- Silver Lake Preserve: Silver Lake Preserve features trails through woodlands and unmowed fields, some small streams and old stone foundations throughout its 236-acres.
- Cranberry Lake Preserve
- Maple Moor Golf Course
- Saxon Woods Park
- The Jacob Purdy House: General Washington's Headquarters from July 23 to September 16, 1778. Historians also believe it to have been the General's Headquarters before the Chatterton Hill battle of October 28, 1776. On April 31, 1979, the house was placed upon the National Register of Historic Places.
For more information about White Plains, visit these sites:
