Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial

Get Ready to Celebrate Our History
November 20, 2005, Times Union, Albany
If how history treats us depends to a degree on how we treat history, maybe it's time for an arched eyebrow of concern. Time and money are tight. So far, the state has committed $150,000 in this fiscal year toward the event with more presumably to follow, but who knows. .Again by way of comparison, look at what our Canadian friends are doing. Quebec is celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2008, on a budget of $115 million.

Fratianni Named Director of Quadricentennial Commission
October 23, 2005, Times Union, Albany
Barbara Fratianni has been named executive director of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission. She heads the panel planning the state's major anniversary celebration in 2009 for the 400th anniversary of the voyages of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain, and the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's inaugural steamboat run. Events to mark the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain quadricentennial will culminate between July and October of 2009, according to the state commission established in 2002 to mark the occasion.

A Beneficial Perfect Storm
June 2005, Eye from Albany by Paul M. Bray
After an inexplicable veto of legislation to establish a Temporary State Commission on the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission, a Commission law was enacted in February 2002. Not much has happened since that time, not even a Governor's press conference to rally the citizens and communities of the State to participate in planning anniversaries that should be momentous events.

Hudson, Champlain Commission chief resigns
June 12, 2005, Times Union, Albany
After just eight months on the job, Donald Kasprzak has resigned as executive director of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission. Kasprzak had overseen a 21-member commission under the auspices of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Preservation. The panel is planning the state's major anniversary celebration in 2009 for the 400th anniversary of the voyages of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain and the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's inaugural steamboat run. The commission has $150,000 in state funding.

Funding for Hudson, Champlain events expected soon
October 17, 2004, Times Union, Albany
Donald Kasprzak, who has been appointed executive director of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission, said the historical celebration has a promise of $150,000 in state funding. Those two announcements are being praised by people who expressed concern planning had lagged for the major anniversary in 2009 -- the 400th anniversary of the voyages of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain and the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's inaugural steamboat run.

Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission
February 13, 2002 Press Release from Governor George Patake
Governor George Patake signed legislation establishing the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission. The 21-member commission will plan and develop the 400th anniversary celebrations of the voyages of discovery made by Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain in 1609, as well as the 200th anniversary of the launching of Robert Fulton's steamboat on the Hudson River in 1807.

1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration

1909 Champlain Tercentenary Celebration

Title Page
From the Celebration Commission's
Report to the NY Legislature
September 11, 1911

Portrait of Samuel de Champlain

From Sunday, July 4, 1909 to Saturday, July 10, 1909, a bi-state celebration was hosted by New York and Vermont to commemorate the discovery of Lake Champlain by Samuel de Champlain in 1609. Samuel Champlain was the founder of Quebec, the discover of Lake Champlain, the explorer of the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario and of the Ottawa River to its source, and he was the first white man to reach the Georgian Bay. This report, submitted by the Celebration Commission to the New York Assembly, describes in detail the events of this celebration. Sections of the report containing the important historical speeches and papers are included on this web site.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1  Historical Introduction: The Strife for Control 
A short history of 200 years of armed conflict on Lake Champlain.

Chapter 2   Evolution of the Champlain Celebration Project

Chapter 3  Report of the First Lake Champlain Tercentenary Commission

Chapter 6  Work of the New York Commission

APPENDIX

Samuel Champlain and the Lake Champlain Tercentenary   A description of the life of Samuel Champlain, the discovery of Lake Champlain, and his battle with the Iroquois.

PART TWO: CELEBRATION

Historical Address by Hon. Seth Low of New York, "The Celebration at Crown Point"

Historical Address by Judge Albert C. Barnes of Chicago, "A History of Crown Point".

Historical Address, entitled, “The Story of Lake Champlain,” by Dr. Hamilton W. Mabie of New York. A history of Lake Champlain

A Formal Historical Address, entitled “The Iroquois and the Struggle for America,” by the Hon. Elihu Root. U. S. Senator from New York.

Welcome to Isle La Motte, by Senator Henry W. Hill of Buffalo.