LABOR DAY AT HUDSON RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM: Solaris Cruises, plus John J. Harvey returns to Hudson River Maritime Museum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Kirsty Gaukel
[email protected]

Program Contact:
Kerry Gallagher
[email protected]

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Trips and deck tours on Monday, September 4th 

KINGSTON, N.Y. (August 28, 2023) – Hudson River Maritime Museum is excited to offer special Labor Day boat tours onboard Solaris--the museum’s solar-powered boat--and the Fireboat John J. Harvey on Monday, September 4th.

Solaris will run special holiday sightseeing tours of the Rondout Creek at 1pm, 2pm, 3PM & 4pm on Monday, September 4th. Reservations are encouraged in advance by visiting https://www.hrmm.org/all-boat-tours.html Tour tickets are $20 and last 1 hour.
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Fireboat John J. Harvey will visit the museum’s waterfront campus making stops throughout the Hudson Valley as part of her Hudson River trip this season and will be at the Kingston waterfront offering free public trips and deck tours. All trips on John J. Harvey are free with a $5 refundable deposit. Trips. lasting 45-60 minutes. will venture out onto the Rondout Creek and beyond.  These opportunities are available first come first served and registration is required for trips:  Links to reserve tickets are as follows: 10:00am.-11:30am -Reservations; 12 noon- 1:30pm - Reservations; 2:00pm -3:30pm Reservations or visit www.fireboat.org for more information.

Fireboat John J. Harvey, launched in Brooklyn in 1931, was named for FDNY pilot John J. Harvey.  Firefighter Harvey was killed in the line of duty fighting a ship fire. Harvey was a historic first; the first fireboat powered by internal combustion engines and the first that could pump and maneuver simultaneously. She was the largest, fastest fire fighting machine of her time, capable of pumping 18,000 gallons per minute, roughly the equivalent of 20 terrestrial fire trucks. The innovations of her design influenced all subsequent fireboats.

People are also invited to travel from Kingston to Waterford, NY on Thursday September 7th and from Kingston to New York City on Tuesday September 12th. The one-way Free Public Trip down the Hudson River departs Kingston at 9am arriving in New York City’s Pier 66 at 6pm, with stops at Rhinecliff (9:15am) & Poughkeepsie (10:50am). Tickets are available here: Reservations.
 
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​About John J. Harvey
Harvey served and protected NY Harbor for over 6 decades, assisting during such notable fires as the Cunard Line pier fire in 1932, the burning of Normandie in 1942, and the potentially disastrous fire on ammunition ship El Estero during World War II. Decommissioned in 1994, Harvey was saved from the scrap yard by a dedicated group of volunteers and restored as an operational museum and education center, offering free public trips in New York Harbor, and attending notable maritime festivals in Waterford and Oyster Bay in NY, and Mystic and New London in CT.

On September 11 2001, John J. Harvey was recalled to service by the FDNY and reactivated as Marine Company 2. Alongside the FDNY fireboats Fire Fighter and John D. McKean she pumped water for 80 hours until water mains in lower Manhattan were restored to service. Harvey's action that week was the subject of countless print and video news articles as well as a 2002 Maira Kalman book Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey.

Learn more about John J. Harvey’s history, mission, and programming at www.fireboat.org. 

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About Solaris

Solaris is the Hudson River Maritime Museum's 100% solar-powered tour boat and floating classroom. She was built bu the museum's restoration crew, under the direction of Jim Kricker, on-site at the museum's Wooden Boat School. Solaris is the only solar-powered boat in operation on the Hudson River. She does not require fossil fuels to operate.

Designed by marine architect Dave Gerr from a concept developed by David Borton, owner of Sustainable Energy, our tour boat is commercial in design, meeting all U.S. Coast Guard regulations for commercial passenger-carrying vessels. In late 2018, the vessel passed her speed/range endurance test under the watchful eye of Coast Guard inspectors, using only reserve battery power. This vessel can travel up to 50 miles at night without the use of her solar panels. Even on cloudy days, the solar panels are so efficient that they continue to power the batteries.​


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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