Media Contact: Kirsty Gaukel Hudson River Maritime Museum Email: [email protected] Phone: (845) 338-0071 Program Contact: Zachary Martin Director of Education Email: zmartin@hrmm.org KINGSTON, N.Y. (February 4, 2025) -- The Hudson River Maritime Museum is excited to announce the Winter/Spring lineup for its renowned Follow the River Lecture Series. For over a decade, this lecture series has brought together historians, authors, and maritime experts to explore topics ranging from regional and maritime history to ecology and art inspired by the Hudson River. This season's lineup, running from February through April, promises engaging discussions with leading experts. Tickets are $10 ($5 for HRMM Members). Upcoming Lectures: Hudson River Ecology Speaker: Dr. Stuart E.G. Findlay Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Join us for an insightful presentation by Dr. Stuart E.G. Findlay, an aquatic ecologist with over 30 years of experience studying the Hudson River. Dr. Findlay’s research on sensitive wetlands, shoreline restoration, and environmental monitoring is shaping the future of the river’s recovery. In this lecture, he will discuss the effects of climate change and human activity on the river’s ecology and share strategies for protecting and preserving this vital waterway for future generations. Dreams of Freedom Speaker: Marilyn Higgins Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Join author Marilyn Higgins as she delves into her historical fiction novel, Dreams of Freedom. Set just before the Civil War, the novel follows Aileen O’Malley, a young Irish immigrant searching for her lost family along the Erie Canal—a region that played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad. The novel brings to life the era’s fierce debates over slavery, immigration, and national identity. Higgins will discuss her research, the historical backdrop of her novel, and the real-life struggles that shaped this tumultuous time in American history. Life on the Erie Canal as a Tugboat Cook Speaker: Bettina Mueller Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM In 1976 and 1977, Bettina Mueller embarked on an extraordinary adventure, working as a cook aboard a tugboat traveling from New York Harbor to Buffalo on the Erie Canal. Over three trips, each lasting approximately three weeks, she navigated the challenges of feeding a crew of five while traveling through 57 locks and under 15 lift bridges along the historic canal. In this lecture, Bettina will share stories from her book, Photographique – A Journal, offering a unique glimpse into life aboard a working tugboat, illustrated with stunning photographs from her journey. Japanese Wooden Boatbuilding Speaker: Douglas Brooks Date: Friday, April 18, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Join master boatbuilder Douglas Brooks as he shares insights from over 25 years of studying traditional Japanese boatbuilding. Having apprenticed with nine boatbuilders across Japan, Brooks has documented and preserved their techniques before they vanish. His latest book, Japanese Wooden Boatbuilding, is the first comprehensive study of the craft. In this lecture, Brooks will explore the crucial role of apprenticeships in sustaining Japanese crafts, the challenges posed by modernization, and his personal experiences learning from masters who often require students to "steal" their knowledge. His talk offers a captivating look into craftsmanship, cultural preservation, and the future of wooden boatbuilding in Japan, accompanied by stunning photographs of traditional Japanese boats. Following the lecture, we are offering a rare opportunity to take a class with Douglas Brooks at the Museum’s Wooden Boat School on April 19 and 20. Under Brooks’ guidance participants will make a wooden plane in the Japanese style, practicing hand tool skills with the chisel and saw. Registration information can be found at www.hrmm.org/adult-classes Poetry of the Hudson Speaker: Paul Kane Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM The Hudson River has long inspired poets, writers, and storytellers, its beauty woven into myths, legends, and verse. This illustrated talk led by Paul Kane, an esteemed poet, author, and scholar, delves into the poetry of the Hudson, exploring its lyrical essence and enduring presence in the American landscape. From the river’s source in the Adirondacks to its wide embrace of New York Bay, we trace its influence through the works of poets past and present, uncovering the ways in which the Hudson itself feels inherently poetic. Join Us for an Engaging Season of Maritime History and CultureEach lecture will be held in-person in the Wooden Boat School at the Hudson River Maritime Museum, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage with speakers, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of the region's rich history and ongoing ecological challenges. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.hrmm.org/lecture-series or call (845) 338-0071. About the Hudson River Maritime Museum:
About the Follow the River Lecture Series For more than a decade the Hudson River Maritime Museum's "Follow the River Lecture Series" has hosted historians, authors, and maritime experts for engaging illustrated talks on a variety of regional history and maritime subjects. In recent years, many of the lectures have also been recorded and are available on YouTube. For more information about upcoming lectures and to access recordings of past lectures, visit www.hrmm.org/lecture-series. The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related industries. In addition to extensive collections documenting maritime transportation, industry, recreation, and natural science, the museum offers classes and programs at its Wooden Boat School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.
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