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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emma Foster / Museum Educator / [email protected] Program Title: Bite the Bullet: Medicine in the 18th Century Lecture Date & Time: Saturday, April 25, 2026 1:00pm Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum - 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY Pricing: $10/non member - $5/ HRMM members Presentation Topic: “Bite the Bullet,” Washington’s Headquarters’ Program on Revolutionary era medicine, is designed to acquaint audiences with the state of medical knowledge and some of the practices of medicine in the time of George Washington. Physicians were frequently confounded by the causes of illness, treated symptoms, and relied heavily on the healing powers of nature. Many remedies stocked by apothecaries were herbal in nature, and the best doctors of the time still healed with herbs. In 1775, the US had 3,500 doctors, but only 300 had medical degrees. The profession of physician / surgeon was open only to men, but the system relied heavily on women who could be and were midwives. The lecture quotes from the diary of traveling midwife, Martha Ballard, of northern Massachusetts who kept a record of her work as a healer and a midwife, which provides an unparalleled window into practical medicine in the quarter century straddling 1800. Find more information and registration details at hrmm.org or here. Speaker Bio: Matthew Weigman has been a Hudson Valley resident going back to 1962 and has had an interest in American history since the age of 16. His 32-year-career in communications at the auction house Sotheby’s concluded with nine years as Worldwide Director of Sales Communications, based in London. As a historical interpreter at Washington’s Headquarters Newburgh for the past four years he has enjoyed illuminating visitors and audiences about significant achievements of the “indispensable man” of the American Revolution during its final 16 months, as well as lecturing about the era of the Revolution itself. To satisfy an interest in horticulture Matthew volunteers as a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County, writes regularly for the Garden Club of America magazine Bulletin and lectures in historical horticulture. About HRMM: 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 Woodworking School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. Now in its 46th year, HRMM is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. For more information about the Hudson River Maritime Museum, please visit hrmm.org, find HRMM on Facebook, or call 845.338.0071. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dan Nelson / HRMM Woodworking School Manager / [email protected] KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Hudson River Maritime Museum Woodworking School is pleased to announce two new spring youth programs. Taught by professionals in the field of woodworking and carpentry, these programs are perfect for young people who like to work with their hands and learn new skills. Topics covered include measuring, layout, joinery, tool use and care, and shop safety. The 2026 HRMM Spring Youth Woodworking School Programs Include: Girls Spring Break Boat Building Monday - Friday | March 30 - April 3 | 9 AM - 4 PM | Scholarships Available Offered to girls age 11 and up, in celebration of Women's History Month, students will practice project planning, design, measurement, fabrication, and assembly while they work as a team building a rowboat. Master woodworker and shipwright, Wayne Ford will lead this course over the week of spring break. Students can sign up for as many days of the class as they want, from one day to all five days. Scholarships are available for 25%, 50% or 100% of tuition. Youth After School Intro to Woodworking Tuesdays and Thursdays | April 14 - May 21 | 4:15 PM - 5:45 PM | Scholarships Available This hands-on after-school class teaches youth 13-18 the fundamentals of building with wood, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:15-5:45 PM, for six weeks. Covering safety, power tool and hand tool use, students will get their hands dirty practicing with a wide variety of tools to measure, cut, and shape wood and work as a team to design and construct a little library for a local community. This project builds skills in project planning, design, measurement, fabrication, and assembly and is the perfect vehicle for STEAM-based learning. Scholarships are available for 25%, 50% or 100% of tuition. Find HRMM youth programs information and registration details at hrmm.org or here. Scholarship Opportunities. Creating a more inclusive experience by providing access and removing financial barriers when needed is a critical part of HRMM's mission. We are pleased to offer scholarship opportunities to deserving young people for our youth woodworking and sailing programs. Financial aid and scholarships are available based upon need and available funding. Find HRMM scholarship information and application details at hrmm.org or here. 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 Woodworking School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. Now in its 46th year, HRMM is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. For more information about the Hudson River Maritime Museum, please visit hrmm.org, find HRMM on Facebook, or call 845.338.0071. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jen Bousliman / HRMM Development Manager / [email protected] KINGSTON, N.Y. – As part of The Hudson River Maritime Museum's commitment to Community Access, Education, History & Preservation and Sustainability, HRMM has announced The Youth Endeavor Scholarship Fund (YES!). This new program is designed to help remove potential financial barriers for youth looking to experience and learn on-the-water and traditional woodworking skills while building confidence, knowledge and fostering community. With a financial goal of $20,000 to double the HRMM youth scholarship awards of 2025, YES! aims to welcome even more young people from our community and greater Hudson Valley to HRMM's Voyager Summer Camp, Girl’s Spring Break Boat Building, After School Youth Woodworking classes, and Youth Sailing courses. HRMM would like to thank Central Hudson for its partnership and generous donation of $10,000 to help launch the YES! initiative. HRMM is deeply grateful for Central Hudson’s partnership, showing a commitment to Community Access, Education, History & Preservation and Sustainability, the cornerstones of HRMM’s mission. “HRMM is experiencing increasing interest in our youth programming and as a result, an increased need for scholarships. In seeing this, we knew we needed to do more to create greater access." said Jen Bousliman, HRMM Development Manager. "We extend our sincere thanks to Linda Selcanin, Jerry Nappi, and the entire Central Hudson team for their belief in our vision to help all youth in the community have access to the Hudson River and the HRMM Campus." continued Bousliman. 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 Woodworking School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. Now in its 46th year, HRMM is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. For more information on HRMM’s youth programming, information on scholarships and to donate to the fund, please visit hrmm.org/ways-to-give or email Jen Bousliman at [email protected]. For more information about the Hudson River Maritime Museum, please visit hrmm.org, find HRMM on Facebook, or call 845.338.0071. ### The Sailing School at HRMM Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary & Announces 2026 Youth Sailing Programs2/2/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jody Sterling / HRMM Sailing School Director / [email protected] KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Sailing School at the Hudson River Maritime Museum is celebrating its tenth year of programming in 2026. The only US Sailing Accredited sailing school in the Hudson Valley, it was founded in 2017 with a two-week pilot youth program on four sailboats with 24 youth sailors. Now, six graduates from that initial program have earned their US Sailing Instructor certifications, and they comprise half of our roster of highly skilled sailing instructors who will deliver youth and adult sailing classes to over 350 students in 2026 on our fleet of 22 sailboats! The Sailing School at HRMM 2026 youth sailing programs include: The Parent-Child Sailing class is for parents (or caregivers) and their children ages five to eight. The class comprises four 3-hour sessions (12 hours total) and aims to introduce children to the basics of sailing in a nurturing environment, so each student develops as a sailor while making new friends and having new experiences. Morning classes (9 am to noon) are for five- and six-year-olds with their adults, and afternoon classes (1 - 4 pm) are for seven- and eight-year-olds with their adults. Classes are designed for one adult and one child to sail together. No prior sailing experience is necessary. Parent-Child Sailing will take place on June 29 - July 1 and August 17 - 20. Fees are $425 per registrant per week. All HRMM members receive a 10% discount on registration. At HRMM’s Voyager Camp, adventure meets learning in this all-day, multi-activity youth program that blends sailing, boat building, woodworking, museum education, solar boat tours, and hands-on STEAM activities into a unique experience. Designed for youths aged 9-17, this program is perfect for all skill levels. Our Seafarers (9-12 years) and Navigators (13-17 years) will spend each day sailing for three hours, practicing boat building and woodworking for 90 minutes, and participating in other STEAM activities involving history, crafts, games, and tours on our solar vessel, Solaris, all while making friends, learning new skills and fostering their creativity! Mid-day, Seafarers and Navigators will gather for an outdoor lunch onshore—perfect for sharing stories of their adventures. HRMM’s professional woodworkers, museum and science educators, and US Sailing Certified Instructors are here to guide your kids every step of the way, ensuring they understand how STEAM principles come alive both in the workshop and on the water! The Voyager Program will run Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm for six one-week sessions July 6th thorough August 14th. Fees are $795 per week. All HRMM members receive a 10% discount on registration. Find more information and registration details at hrmm.org or here. Scholarship Opportunities. Creating a more inclusive waterfront by, providing access and removing financial barriers when needed is a critical part of our mission. We are pleased to offer scholarship opportunities to deserving young people for our summer programs. Financial aid and scholarships are available based upon need and available funding. Find youth scholarship information and application details at hrmm.org or here. 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 Woodworking School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. Now in its 46th year, HRMM is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. For more information about the Hudson River Maritime Museum, please visit hrmm.org, find HRMM on Facebook, or call 845.338.0071. HRMM Announces New Lecture: Batter Up! The History of Baseball in Kingston and Ulster County1/21/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emma Foster / Museum Educator / [email protected] Program Title: Batter Up! The History of Baseball in Kingston and Ulster County Date & Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 7:00pm Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum - 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY Pricing: $10/non member - $5/ HRMM members Presentation Topic: This lecture explores the early history of baseball in Ulster County and the role the region played in the sport’s development during the mid-19th century. Long before professional leagues, baseball took root in river towns like Kingston and Rondout, where dockworkers, tradesmen, and clerks organized clubs and played on open fields. Drawing on newspaper accounts, box scores, and local records, the talk highlights how baseball functioned as both recreation and community life in the Hudson Valley. Special attention is given to local clubs, early rivalries, and games that drew regional and even national attention. This lecture also examines how Ulster County fits into larger stories about amateur baseball, race, and the transition toward organized leagues. By focusing on specific people and places, it shows how national baseball history was shaped by very local experiences. The result is a grounded look at how a global game grew out of small communities along the Hudson River. Find more information and registration details at hrmm.org or here. Speaker Bios: Dan Torres is the President of the Ulster County Vintage Base Ball Association and co-founder of the Kingston Guards Vintage Base Ball Club, a team that plays by 19th-century rules. Additionally, he has done extensive research on Ulster County’s 19th-century baseball history. Taylor Bruck is the Ulster County Clerk and the City of Kingston Historian. In these roles, he works to preserve, interpret, and make accessible the region’s historical records, with a particular focus on local civic and community history. His work bridges public service and historical scholarship, helping connect Ulster County’s past to its present. About HRMM: Located along the historic Rondout Creek waterfront in downtown Kingston, NY, the Hudson River Maritime Museum is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and related industries. Learn more at hrmm.org. HRMM Announces Performance Lecture - Crime on the Hudson: Gilded Age Pirates and River Thieves1/20/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sara Russell / Museum Educator / [email protected] Program Title: Crime on the Hudson: Gilded Age Pirates and River Thieves - Lecture and Performance Date & Time: Thursday, February 12, 2026 6:30pm Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum - 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY Pricing: $20/non member - $10/ HRMM members / Sliding scale ticket option available. Please email [email protected] for more information and to secure a discounted ticket. Presentation Topic: Do you ever wonder if there were actual pirates on the Hudson River? Come and learn about a wild chapter in Hudson River history when mercenary sloops prowled the waterway, raiding mansions and plundering merchant ships. Who were these river outlaws stirring up chaos…and how did local communities and the law fight back? The evening will begin with a brief lecture on the real and sometimes legendary criminal activity along the Hudson in the 1860s and 1870s, followed by an immersive performance starring the era’s most infamous characters in the flesh, including the mysterious young woman rumored to have led a notorious Lower Manhattan gang. Watch as she is put on trial for her alleged crimes. Is she guilty? How does her story end? Who decides her fate? This special event weaves scholarship and storytelling, created and presented by HRMM’s Education Department in collaboration with Siren Theatre Company. Find more information and registration details at hrmm.org or here. Siren Theatre Company is a small group of performing artists local to the Hudson Valley founded by Caitlin Connelly, Tricia Anderson, and Maclain Maier. They specialize in writing original, immersive productions that bring history to life. The company’s mission is to produce fearless and inspiring work that can create dialogue, play with perspective, and inspire introspection. Visit them on Facebook. About HRMM: Located along the historic Rondout Creek waterfront in downtown Kingston, NY, the Hudson River Maritime Museum is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and related industries. Learn more at hrmm.org. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jody Sterling / HRMM Sailing School Director / [email protected] KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Sailing School at the Hudson River Maritime Museum and the Kingston Sailing Club are pleased to announce that registration for the ninth annual Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference, March 27 - 28, is now open. The 2026 Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference (RWSC) is co-sponsored by the Hudson River Maritime Museum and the Kingston Sailing Club and will be held in person, on land, at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, New York. All workshops will be taught by expert women mariners. People of all genders are welcome to register. Discounted registration is available to young people ages 14 - 20. Join us on Friday, March 27, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm for the Keynote events at Frank Guido’s Little Italy, Thomas Street, Kingston, New York. From 5:00 to 6:00 pm, we will welcome all interested people to network with local and regional sailors and many of our conference presenters at a free social hour with a cash bar. From 6:00 to 6:30, Nancy DeVries will deliver her Keynote presentation “Not Just a Hudson River Sailor” for free to all who would like to participate. Nancy’s naysayers suggested that a river was a poor way to begin an extraordinary sailing life. Now almost 70,000 bluewater miles later, Nancy contradicts that, shares how it all began, and inspires us as she sails into her ninth decade. The Keynote dinner with Nancy and other conference presenters begins at 6:30 pm. Enjoy more networking opportunities and a delicious three-course dinner. On March 28, conference registrants will enjoy a full Saturday of workshops, networking, coffee/light breakfast, and lunch. Participants will select up to five workshops on topics including Becoming a Boat Owner; Introduction to Racing; Diesel Engine Maintenance, You Are Strong Enough!; Maritime Licensing; Basic Navigation; Knots & Line Management; Ms. Race Regatta; Guided Museum Tour; Keepers of the Light; Outboard Engine Troubleshooting; and Rig Tuning. The day will conclude with a lively panel discussion on Working in the Maritime Professions. Early registration for the Keynote Events and Conference Workshops is recommended to assure a spot and to reserve spaces in workshops you’d like to attend. The Keynote Dinner cost is $60 per person which includes taxes and gratuities. Conference workshop tuition is $125 for the public and $110 for HRMM members. Youth registration is available at a 20% discount. For details about the conference and online registration visit hrmm.org/riverport-womens-conference or call (845) 338-0071. The Hudson River Maritime Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which relies upon donations and memberships for daily operations. The museum does not receive any municipal, state, or federal funding, except through competitive, project-based grants. For more information about the Hudson River Maritime Museum, please visit hrmm.org, find HRMM on Facebook, or call 845.338.0071. HRMM Announces New Lecture - Taking the Air: Vacationing to the Catskills in the 19th Century1/7/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emma Foster / Museum Educator / [email protected] Program Title: Taking the Air: Vacationing to the Catskills in the 19th Century Date & Time: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 7pm Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum - 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY Pricing: $10/non member - $5/ HRMM members Presentation Topic: The late 19th century was an era of intense change. To escape the whirlwinds of newly booming cities, many would take vacations into the bucolic Catskill Mountains to stay at grand hotels. Learn how these vacationers would get to their destinations, what clothes they would pack, and what activities awaited them. We will also explore attitudes toward vacation at the time, and the context of the era. Come take this fascinating journey into the Catskills of the past with Museum Educator Emma Foster. Bio of Speaker: Emma is an Educator at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. She holds a journalism degree from SUNY New Paltz. She has previously worked as a historic interpreter at the Senate House State Historic Site and as a tour guide at the Reher Center. Find more information and registration details at hrmm.org or here. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Abby Drayer / Museum Educator / [email protected] Program Title: Once Ancient Oceans: How Geology Shaped New York Waterways Date & Time: Wednesday January 14, 2026 - 7pm Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum - 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY Pricing: $10/non member - $5/ HRMM members Presentation Topic: Before the first dinosaurs, before the first mammals, just as the very first forests were beginning to form on Earth, the land that makes up New York state today was covered by an ancient ocean. How did the geology formed by this ancient world, nearly 400 million years ago, shape life and commerce along the Hudson River throughout the 1800’s and into the present? Join us and find out! Bio of Speaker: Abby Drayer is a Museum Educator and the Solaris Programs Coordinator at the HRMM. They have a background in Physics and Acoustics, and are currently taking graduate courses on Marine Bioacoustics. The Follow the River Lecture Series is sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank. Find more information and registration details at hrmm.org or here. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Kelley / Marketing Manager / [email protected] KINGSTON, NY – In continuing its mission to preserve the history of the Hudson River while creating a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive waterfront for all to enjoy, Hudson River Maritime Museum has launched the 2025 Year End Appeal campaign. Contributions made to the Year End Appeal help us continue our mission to preserve the history of the Hudson River while creating a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive waterfront for all to enjoy. Your support makes a difference! Established in 1979, HRMM is a multi-functioning education hub and dynamic working waterfront. HRMM's campus is home to an extensive collection of maritime artifacts and historic vessels, the Woodworking School, the Sailing School, a marina with public docking, the solar-powered tour boat, Solaris and the Homeport Barn public events space. Additionally, the museum operates the Rondout Lighthouse — the last of three lighthouses marking the entrance to the Rondout Creek — accessible only via HRMM guided boat tours. Whether you support the 2025 Year End Appeal, become a member, make a recurring gift, become a business supporter, or volunteer your time, your generosity makes a direct impact and helps to strengthen our mission. Learn more about the HRMM 2025 Year End Appeal and other ways to support HRMM at hrmm.org/ways-to-give. The Hudson River Maritime Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which relies upon donations and memberships for daily operations. The museum does not receive any municipal, state, or federal funding, except through competitive, project-based grants. For more information about the Hudson River Maritime Museum, please visit hrmm.org, Like HRMM on Facebook, or call 845.338.0071 |
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