Don Rittner

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Don Rittner is a historian and archeologist of the Capital District, Schenectady County, New York; in December, 2004 he was named official Schenectady County Historian, responsible for providing guidance and support to municipal historians and serving as a conduit between the State Historian in Albany and the local historians in their counties.

Rittner's career continues the work of William B. Efner, former Schenectady City Historian. During the 1930s and 40s, Efner studied the old colonial roads and taverns of the Pine Bush region between Albany and Schenectady.

Rittner was named Albany City Archaeologist in 1973 and began excavating colonial tavern sites in the Pine Bush. He completed Efner’s work in relocating the old King’s Highway and in 1975 erected sixteen King’s Highway markers that are still visible along the route.

He has published 22 books in history, science, and technology.^{[citation needed]} From 1999 to 2005, he wrote a history column for the Troy Record called "Heritage on the Hudson".

Rittner manages the Capital District Preservation Task Force listserve that provides daily newspaper coverage in history, planning, and preservation to more than 80 leading preservation and environmental groups.