History

   Camp Smith is a New York Army National Guard installation. The camp, formerly known as Camp Townsend was established in 1882 by General Frederick Townsend, Adjutant General of New York. The training site was renamed Camp Smith in 1919 in honor of Alfred E. Smith, Governor of New York.

   Camp Smith is located in Westchester County bordering Putnam County in the north. Camp Smith can be accessed from NYS Route 6 immediately north from the City of Peekskill. The Bear Mountain Bridge can be found in the North West corner of Camp Smith and the United States Military Academy at West Point is located across the Hudson River, approximately 10 miles north of the training site.

   Today, Camp Smith is comprised of 1,585 acres of training property. Approximately 94 percent of Camp Smith is rugged mountainous terrain ideal for light infantry tactical maneuvers and paramilitary training. The remaining 95 acres of cantonment area consists of outdoor ranges, training simulation facilities, administrative buildings and a maintenance shop sitting on a plateau overlooking the Hudson River.

   Camp Smith Training Site is continually adding and updating training capabilities, read more about Camp Smith’s amenities in the Transforming your Primary Readiness Site brochure.

Below you will find historic videos recorded at the Camp Smith Training Site. More historic videos of the New York National Guard can be found on the New York State Military History Museum Youtube Channel

10th Infantry @ Camp Smith, 1936

Camp Smith, 1938

Camp Smith & Camp Upton, 1939-1940

108th Regiment @ Camp Smith, 1947