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Hudson River’s Lighthouses Shine in New Documentary Commissioned by Hudson River Maritime Museum

4/24/2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kirsty Gaukel, Press & Marketing Manager, [email protected]

‘Seven Sentinels: Lighthouse of the Hudson River’ begins rolling premiere at Orpheum Theatre in Saugerties

KINGSTON, N.Y. (April 25, 2024) – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is delighted to announce the rolling premiere of its first feature-length documentary film: ‘Seven Sentinels: Lighthouses of the Hudson River.’ Following a private showing for members and supporters of HRMM on May 4, the documentary will have public screenings at Upstate Film’s Orpheum Theatre in Saugerties on Saturday, May 18 and Time & Space Ltd,. in Hudson on June 2. A series of additional regional screenings throughout the Hudson Valley will follow with details forthcoming. For more information visit, www.hrmm.org/seven-sentinels. Tickets for the screening at Orpheum Theatre are $15.00 and are available from the Orpheum Theatre at www.upstatefilms.org/seven-sentinels-lighthouses-of-the-hudson-river

Commissioned and produced by HRMM, and directed, filmed and edited by Jeff Mertz of Moonbow Imaging, ‘Seven Sentinels,’ is a beautifully shot film that explores the history of the Hudson River’s seven remaining lighthouses and the keepers that lived in them, as told by the people interpreting and caring for the structures today.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum's concept for this film grew out of decades of Hudson River lighthouse interpretation, including research, exhibits, articles, short films and presentations. Of the dozens of lighthouses and warning lights that once dotted the Hudson River, only seven remain. This iconic American river was a transportation super highway long before automobiles were invented, and enabled the rise of New York City and westward expansion into the interior of this country. Throughout almost two centuries of America's explosive growth, these lighthouses kept watch, guarding the safety of the Hudson’s waterborne traffic.

The project was made possible in part through support from Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the County of Ulster’s Ulster County Cultural Services & Promotion Fund administered by Arts Mid-Hudson, and Rondout Savings Bank, Ulster Savings. Ellen and Samuel Phelan Family Foundation, Dale Wolfield, Ken Mann and Radio Kingston.

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.

Jeff Mertz (Director) is an award-winning independent multimedia producer and educator focusing on nonfiction storytelling. His work often aims to render in miniature the effects of large-scale environmental and social paradigms, particularly by telling stories that galvanize discussion in the realms of environmental conservation and justice, food systems, mental health, and history. His work and collaborations have screened internationally at Woodstock, New Hampshire, and other film festivals, and have been featured on international publications including Nowness, Hyperallergic, and Buzzfeed. He currently helms Moonbow Imaging, a new photo and video production company focusing on regenerative storytelling, serving clients in the Hudson Valley and worldwide.

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ALL ABOARD SOLARIS

4/22/2024

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PR Contact:
Kirsty Gaukel. Press & Marketing Manager, [email protected]

Solaris Inquiries:
Erin Boss, Education Program Manager. [email protected]

Hudson River Maritime Museum Announces 2024 Schedule
for Solar-Powered Tour Boat, Solaris

KINGSTON, N.Y. - The Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar-powered tour boat, Solaris, returns with a splash for the 2024 season. After a winter break, the museum’s crew and docents are excited to bring passengers back for regularly-scheduled lighthouse tours and sightseeing cruises from mid-May through the end of October.

The season preview begins on May 11 with a full day of FREE cruises as part of the City of Kingston’s Earth Day Festival. Complimentary sightseeing cruises on Solaris will begin at 11am, and will continue on the hour, every hour with the last cruise sailing at 4p.m. Each cruise will last approximately 45-minutes. Admission to these cruises cannot be booked in advance; interested passengers can reserve on a first-come, first-served basis via a sign-up booth in the yard of the Museum day-of, beginning 30 minutes prior to each cruise.

Public, ticketed cruises begin on Saturday, May 18. Throughout the season, regularly-scheduled cruises will operate Thursday through Sunday from home port at the museum’s Kingston waterfront. Cruises depart at 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 7:30pm daily, with an additional 10am cruise on Sunday mornings. For July and August, Wednesday cruises will be added to the schedule for additional opportunities to catch a ride.

The schedule includes daily trips to the historic Rondout Lighthouse, which stands on the breakwater jetty where the Rondout Creek meets the Hudson River. During lighthouse tours, passengers disembark and are led through the lighthouse by the museum’s knowledgeable crew and docents, culminating in unique 360-degree views from the observation deck at the top of the lighthouse. Other cruises include routes upcreek to explore historic wrecks along the Rondout’s banks and gentle sunset cruises on the Hudson River.

The 2024 season is also packed with exciting themed cruises. Each Thursday at 6pm, Solaris will welcome a local musical artist to regale guests with acoustic sets complemented by the ambiance of local waterways. One one Friday evening each month, Kingston Wine Co. will lead a relaxing tasting tour highlighting flavors of the Hudson Valley’s wineries and cideries. Deep-dive history tours throughout the season will be led by local experts Bill Merchant, Harv Hilowitz, and Justin Wexler covering topics ranging from Native American history to the history of the D&H Canal.

In addition to cruises departing from Kingston, Solaris will serve the Dutchess County side of the river in weekly trips departing from the Rhinecliff Landing Boat Launch, including Sunday afternoon Rondout Lighthouse tour offerings throughout the season, and Wednesday evening cruises in July and August.

Finally, Solaris will be making special trips downriver to Poughkeepsie from June 17-19 and July 1-3, and upriver to Hudson from July 8-10 to offer public cruises from these respective waterfronts. Stay tuned for more details!

Tickets for our regular season are now on sale at www.hrmm.org/all-boat-tours.html. Descriptions of cruise offerings are located on the same page below the calendar. Every Solaris ticket includes a free all-day pass to the museum.

For those seeking a more personalized tour experience, Solaris can be chartered for private groups. Pair an intimate reunion, family excursion, birthday or anniversary celebration with a peaceful cruise on the river. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drink

Solaris Cruises 2024
Rondout Lighthouse Tour
Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Take a guided tour of the historic Rondout Lighthouse, accessible only by boat. Built in 1915, the lighthouse is one of only seven remaining on the Hudson River. Led by our experienced and knowledgeable tour guides and crew, passengers are ferried to the lighthouse aboard Solaris and disembark to explore the lighthouse's interior, a unique way to experience first-hand the lives of its keepers. The tour culminates in an optional climb to the top of the tower and onto the observation deck! Enjoy stunning views of the Hudson River, the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge and, on a clear day, the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse in the distance.

Dual Lighthouse Cruise

Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free

Experience stunning views of the Esopus Meadows and Rondout Lighthouses on the Hudson River during this popular two-hour cruise each Sunday morning! Marking the entrance to Rondout Creek (Kingston, NY), the Rondout Lighthouse is a beautiful yellow brick structure. Completed in 1915, it is still a working navigational light. Located off of Black Creek in the Town of Esopus, the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse warned mariners away from the "Esopus Meadows," a shallow marshy area that the lighthouse is named after. Finished in 1871, it is the only wooden lighthouse left on the Hudson River. These are two of the remaining seven lighthouses on the Hudson River. Each has a long history as a beacon of light for mariners and home to lighthouse keepers and their families.Please note: On this sightseeing cruise, Solaris does not stop at either lighthouse. To visit the interior of the Rondout Lighthouse, please register for the Rondout Lighthouse Tour.

Hudson River Sunset Cruise

Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free
Cruise into the beautiful end-of-day sights and sounds on the Hudson River and feel free to bring your own beverage (alcohol included) to relax fully. Enjoy the stunning scenery of the Catskill Mountains as they loom over the shores of Kingston and Sojourner Truth State Park. This tour cruises north on the Hudson River, culminating with a spectacular view of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge as the sun sets on the horizon

Rondout Creek Sightseeing Cruise
Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free

As we cruise up Rondout Creek, passengers explore the industrial history of the area and view historic structures including Island Dock, the Wurts Street suspension bridge, the Wilbur Train Bridge, and the remains of cement and bluestone industries. The trip culminates at the former Lock 1 of the Delaware and Hudson Canal by the Eddyville Bridge. Don't miss this opportunity to see this historic river port and canal terminus from the water!

Wrecked and Abandoned

Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free

For most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the village of Rondout boomed with barges, passenger steamboats, tugboats, and shipbuilding yards. Even during World War II, military vessels were built on Rondout Creek and sent off to war. Today, the Rondout Creek dominated by personal pleasure craft is almost unrecognizable from the industrial hub of the past, but the wrecked and abandoned vessels that line the creek or lay at the bottom of the river are archaeological evidence of the area's impressive history. Passengers will explore sunken vessels such as the steamboat Mary Powell and see for themselves the ribs of wrecked vessels surfacing at low tide!

Live Music Cruises
Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free
Join us for an evening of live music with a wide variety of performers on Thursday evenings throughout the summer. The solar-powered electric motor of Solaris is extraordinarily quiet, allowing the music of the Hudson Valley to take center stage on this floating music venue. The intimate environment of *Solaris* provides the opportunity to chat with local musicians between songs and experience a one-of-a-kind performance of indie rock, sea shanties, folk, soul, and more. Passengers are invited to bring their own beverage (alcohol included).

Elements of Taste Cruise
Adults (21-61): $45
Seniors (62+): $40
Enjoy sampling, sunsets, and history aboard Solaris. Led by Kingston Wine Co.'s knowledgeable staff, these cruises cover Hudson Valley-produced wine, cider, and other beverages - complete with tasty samples!

Native History Twilight Cruise with Justin Wexler
Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free

For countless generations, the Lenape People relied on the Hudson River and its tributaries for their survival. Drift with us into the past aboard the Solaris, a 100% solar-powered vessel, on a tour led by ethnoecologist Justin Wexler to learn about the day to day life of local native peoples five centuries ago, before European colonization.

Justin Wexler of Wild Hudson Valley has studied Hudson Valley indigenous culture, languages, and history for over twenty years.

D&H Canal History — A Conversation with Bill Merchant
Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free
Join D&H Canal Historical Society Historian and Curator Bill Merchant for an engaging conversation about the history of the Delaware & Hudson Canal and the industrial port of Rondout. Bill will bring a different historical artifact from the D&H Canal Historical Society collections for discussion on each trip. Quiet and comfortable Solaris will take you up Rondout Creek to Lock No. 1 at Eddyville - the first lock and weigh lock on the D&H Canal.

Lenape History with Harv Hilowitz
Adults (13-61): $35
Seniors (62+): $30
Children (3-12): $25
Infants (0-2): Free

Did you know? The Hudson Valley has been inhabited for over twelve thousand years by Native Peoples. While on the Mahicannituck (Hudson River), passengers will learn about the Indigenous Lenape people, their ancestors and history, and how they interacted with the landscape and with other tribes. Scholar Harv Hilowitz leads guests through the history of what happened after first contact with the Europeans, the journey of the Lenape diaspora, and their presence here now. Questions and conversation are encouraged.

Harv Hilowitz is a historian of Indigenous and Hudson Valley history and a Contributing Scholar to the Hudson River Maritime Museum.

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HRMM ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION ‘WORKING WATERFRONTS’

4/16/2024

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April 16, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Kirsty Gaukel, Press & Marketing Manager [email protected]

HRMM ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION ‘WORKING WATERFRONTS’
-featuring the paintings of maritime artist, Peter K. Eagleton
MAY 17-DECEMBER 22, 2024

KINGSTON, N.Y. (April 16, 2024) – Hudson River Maritime Museum are thrilled to announce a brand new exhibition, Working Waterfronts, displaying oil and pastel paintings by Hudson Valley maritime artist, Peter K. Eagleton. Working Waterfronts will open to the public on May 17 and be on display in the museum’s East Gallery through December 22, 2024.

The late Peter K. Eagleton (1937-2005) was an accomplished artist of marine subjects and marine historian. He was familiar with ships, tugboats, docks, and yards, encountering them, regularly during his career as a shipbroker. His strikingly vibrant and carefully composed paintings celebrate the world of working waterfronts and the graceful shapes of freighters, tugs, ships, lighters, yard oilers, and tankers that plied the waters of New York Harbor and the Hudson River. Enty to the exhibition is included as part of your museum ticket and can be purchased in-person at HRMM, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY.
A special members-only opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 16, 4pm-6pm, allowing HRMM Members a sneak preview of the exhibition prior to its opening to the public on May 17. Tickets to the reception are free for Hudson River Maritime Museum members. For more information, and to reserve your tickets, visit www.hrmm.org/exhibit-opening.

In addition, Hudson River Maritime Museum will host Coast Guard Art Program artist Fred Feiler as part of its Follow the River Lecture Series sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank. Marine Art: Finding Joy in Color and Peace in Nature, will be held in-person at the Wooden Boat School on Wednesday, May 22 at 7pm. Feiler will speak about his own role as a Coast Guard artist and his portfolio of painting, many of which capture scenes of training missions and lifeboat rescues, and are inspired by his deep love of water and boats. Entry is free for HRMM Members and $7 for members of the public. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hrmm.org/lecture-series

For more information about Hudson River Maritime Museum, the Sailing School, Wooden Boat School and their programming, visit online at www.hrmm.org or call 845-338-0071.

About Peter K. Eagleton (1937-2005)
Born in Yonkers, New York, Mr. Eagleton was an accomplished artist and marine historian. He worked for over 36 years in the steamship business as a shipbroker in New York and Scandinavia. He also served on a panel for the U.S. government negotiating trade rates with Asia. His memberships included the Salmagundi Club, The American Society of Marine Artists, the National Maritime Historical Society of America and the Edward Hopper Foundation, as well as an Official U.S. Coast Guard Artist. Eagleton also served for six years as a sergeant in the National Guard. His work was recognized by the Coast Guard’s George Gray Award for outstanding artistic achievement and his paintings appear in a number of significant marine art collections, including the National Coast Guard Museum, the American Merchant Marine Museum, the Mystic Seaport Museum, and the Intrepid Museum.

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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TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED

4/16/2024

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Picture by Fred Feiler

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Kirsty Gaukel, Press & Marketing Manager, [email protected]

Program Contact: Erin Boss, Education Program Manager, [email protected]

TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED
New May Dates for Follow the River Lecture Series

KINGSTON, N.Y. (April 16, 2024) – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce two upcoming lectures as part of its ongoing Follow the River Lecture Series sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank, ‘Silver Dollar Girls: The Women Pilots of WWII’ on May 8 and ‘Marine Art: Finding Joy in Color and Peace in Nature’ on May 22. Both lectures will both be held in-person at the museum's Wooden Boat School at 7:00PM. Tickets are $7 for the general public and free for Hudson River Maritime Museum Members. To register, visit www.hrmm.org/lecture-series.

‘Silver Dollar Girls: The Women Pilots of WWII’ on May 8 will be presented by author Margaret DiBenedetto. In 1941, General Hap Arnold made a surprising and bold decision to allow civilian female pilots to assist in the effort to win WWII. For two years, more than one thousand women flew military aircraft for the US Army Airforce. A local pilot, Ruth Franckling, Margaret’s mother, was part of that effort. Inspired by Ruth’s story, Margaret’s novel 'Silver Dollar Girls' blends a fictional story set in the Catskills Mountains with her mother’s role in aviation history. Join us for a personal talk that sheds light on the brave women who served.

‘Marine Art: Finding Joy in Color and Peace in Nature’ on May 22 features Coast Guard Art Program artist Fred Feiler. This presentation is offered in conjunction with the Hudson River Maritime Museum's exhibition of the paintings of the late Peter K. Eagleton, "Working Waterfronts." Feiler, like Eagelton, is part of the Coast Guard’s Art Program and his work reflects a deep love of water and boats. Feiler will share his works completed at the Coast Guard Station at Boothbay Harbor, ME which depict training missions including using flares, direct hoist, direct trail hoist, and a motor life boat rescue. Feiler will also introduce the work of the broader Coast Guard Art Program, highlighting eleven missions of the Coast Guard/Homeland Security as portrayed by various artists.

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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 series is sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank.

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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Hudson River’s Lighthouses Shine in New Documentary Commissioned by Hudson River Maritime Museum

‘Seven Sentinels: Lighthouse of the Hudson River’ begins rolling premiere at Orpheum Theatre in Saugerties

ALL ABOARD SOLARIS

Hudson River Maritime Museum Announces 2024 Schedule
for Solar-Powered Tour Boat, Solaris

HRMM ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION ‘WORKING WATERFRONTS’

HRMM ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION ‘WORKING WATERFRONTS’
-featuring the paintings of maritime artist, Peter K. Eagleton
MAY 17-DECEMBER 22, 2024

TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED

TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED
New May Dates for Follow the River Lecture Series

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News

Hudson River’s Lighthouses Shine in New Documentary Commissioned by Hudson River Maritime Museum

‘Seven Sentinels: Lighthouse of the Hudson River’ begins rolling premiere at Orpheum Theatre in Saugerties

ALL ABOARD SOLARIS

Hudson River Maritime Museum Announces 2024 Schedule ​for Solar-Powered Tour Boat, Solaris

HRMM ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION ‘WORKING WATERFRONTS’

HRMM ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION ‘WORKING WATERFRONTS’-featuring the paintings of maritime artist, Peter K. Eagleton MAY 17-DECEMBER 22, 2024

TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED

TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCEDNew May Dates for Follow the River Lecture Series

Archives

Categories

GET INVOLVED

stay connected

Hudson River Maritime Museum Announces 2024 Schedule
for Solar-Powered Tour Boat, Solaris

HRMM ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION ‘WORKING WATERFRONTS’
-featuring the paintings of maritime artist, Peter K. Eagleton
MAY 17-DECEMBER 22, 2024

TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED
New May Dates for Follow the River Lecture Series