Museum Hosts Lecture on Lost Amusement Parks

​Museum Hosts Lecture on Lost Amusement Parks

​“Lost Amusement Parks of the Hudson Valley”

KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the upcoming lecture “Lost Amusement Parks of the Hudson Valley,” by Wes and Barbara Gottlock, held virtually on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 7:00 PM. 

Did you know? Amusement parks of all sizes once dotted the shores of the Hudson River, many at or near major Hudson River steamboat landings. Carousels, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, and rides stood alongside swimming pools, boat rentals, and bandstands. With its population growth and its close proximity to New York City, the Hudson Valley was a natural setting for these popular parks, which lined both sides of the Hudson before the turn of the 20th century. Tourists and locals alike were transported to the parks first by Hudson River steamboat or trolley car, and later by automobile. 

In this virtual lecture, local historians Wes & Barbara Gottlock, authors of the book Lost Amusement Parks of the Hudson Valley, will highlight some of the impactful parks that reigned as recreation meccas for millions of people for over 50 years.

Wes & Barbara Gottlock are retired educators who developed an avid interest in local history. They have co-written six books on Hudson Valley and New York City history, including Lost Amusement Parks of the Hudson Valley. Wes is just now finishing a solo book about Manhattan’s East Village. Their website is www.gottlockbooks.com.

Tickets are $7 for the general public and free for Hudson River Maritime Museum members. To register, visit www.hrmm.org/lecture-series.

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.