May 2002

The Hudson River - New York's Water Highway:
350 Years of Transportation, Shipping, and Inspiration

Hudson River Maritime Museum 2002 Exhibit
Open 11 am to 5 pm until October 20th

Allynne Lange, Curator

In conjunction with Kingston’s 350th anniversary, the Hudson River Maritime Museum is presenting an exhibit covering major topics in the maritime history of the Hudson River.

The age of sail, including the sloop and the eras of the Dutch and English, as well as the Revolutionary War, begins the exhibit. The glamorous reign of the Hudson River steamboat in the 19th and early 20th centuries is highlighted with large lithographs of some of the famous boats like the New York of the Hudson River Day Line, the James W. Baldwin, and the famous Mary Powell, as well as boat models. Small passenger steamers known as "yachts" in their heyday in the late 19th century are shown for the first time at the Maritime Museum. These attractive boats operated between small and intermediate towns on the Hudson and along the tributaries of the Hudson like the Rondout and Catskill Creeks.

Hudson River ferries, which crossed the river at many points along the Hudson for several centuries, are featured along with the bridges which eventually replaced them. A look at the 20th century includes dramatic photographs of tankers going through the Hudson Highlands and a display of photos of the Reserve Fleet of Liberty and Victory ships mothballed after World War II on the Hudson at Jones Point taken by Ted Stone.

We also take a look at other commemorative celebrations like the Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 and Kingston’s 250th anniversary celebration.

The exhibit at the Hudson River Maritime Museum is open 11 am to 5 pm until October 20th. For more information, call the Museum at 845-338-0071.