There are plenty of reasons to go to the Hudson waterfront this summer. Keep an eye out for the many historic and replica vessels that will be on the river in celebration of the Quadricentennial.
River Day - June 11 & 12, 2009
On June 6, a relay flotilla of boats will leave from New York Harbor for Albany, picking up more boats as it progresses up the river. The flotilla will be led by such heritage flagships as the Onrust, the John J. Harvey fireboat, and the Half Moon. Boats are scheduled to stop in Hudson, Catskill, and Athens on Thursday, June 11. As the boats approach the City of Hudson, they will cut a ribbon stretched from the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse to the eastern shore. Join in the welcoming festivities in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. The Hudson River sloop Clearwater will dock in Hudson and be available to school groups on the morning of Friday, June 12.
On June 12 around 12:00 noon, the boats will head north to Albany. Their departure can be viewed from Promenade Hill (the park at the foot of Warren Street) or from the Greenport Conservation Area, off Joslen Boulevard in Greenport.
Tug & Barge Tour - September 15 to 17, 2009
The tugboat Pegasus and the performance barge called The Waterfront Museum, usually docked in Red Hook, Brooklyn, will anchor on the City of Hudson’s waterfront (at the deep-water dock) as part of a tour called “The Hudson River—Our Water Highway of Commerce & Communities.” These two historic vessels, both listed in the National Register, are teaming up for this tour “to showcase the great potential of the water highway for public access and enjoyment, education, transport and commerce today.”
The newly preserved 1907 tugboat Pegasus and the 1914 all-wood Lehigh Valley Barge No. 79 are planning to visit municipal docks in select Hudson River communities, bringing their cultural and educational programs, traditionally only offered in New York City, to upstate neighborhood waterfronts, and connecting communities that developed as a result of the discoveries and achievements of Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain. Working with these local communities, the tour will feature tug rides, exhibits that showcase the use of tugs and barges as efficient and effective means of transport and commerce, authentic showboat performances, and educational programs.
Programs will include:
Tugboat Trips - The ride of a lifetime—a chance to experience the horns, whistles, ropes, and power of a tug that once worked the Hudson River.
Tug & Barge Open Hours - Visitors can come aboard both vessels to see presentations, exhibitions, and artifacts, to learn about our once-bustling water highway, and to talk with crew/historic interpreters.
Maritime/Environmental Workshops - Each community will select groups of schoolchildren to participate in free workshops, ranging from how goods get to your door today, knot tying, navigation, throwing the hawser over the bollard, and sketching maritime artifacts.
For further information on the Tugboat Pegasus Preservation Project, go to http://www.tugpegasus.org
For further information about The Waterfront Museum, go to http://www.waterfrontmuseum.org
Day Peckinpaugh - September 22, 2009
The 256-foot-long barge canal motorship Day Peckinpaugh will be docked at the Hudson waterfront, at the deep-water dock, for visitations from the public. The ship is part of a tour of historic vessels called Working on Water.
As part of New York’s Quadricentennial celebration and in tribute to the exploring spirit of Robert Fulton, Samuel de Champlain, and Henry Hudson, the floating exhibition Working on Water will feature two dozen historic vessels traveling the waters of Lake Champlain, Champlain Canal, and the Hudson River. During the months of August and September 2009, historic tugs and other work boats will dock at various waterfront communities where the public will be invited to tour and ride aboard these heritage vessels.