Rhinebeck was once the Violet Capital of the World

Rhinebeck, New York, was once known as the ‘Violet Capital of the World’ due to its massive violet cultivation industry. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Dutchess County community was responsible for approximately 90% of all violets grown in the United States.

George Saltford is credited with establishing the first violet greenhouse in the area and helping transform the practice into a commercial industry. By 1910, the region hosted 116 growers generating over $1 million in revenue. At the industry's peak in 1923, an estimated 40 million violets were being produced in local greenhouses.

The flowers were highly fashionable for Valentine’s Day and Easter corsages, leading growers to ship products from the Hudson Valley to New York City and across the country. The economic importance of the trade is still reflected in the local geography, as Route 9G is still known as ‘Violet Avenue’.