KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the upcoming lecture “Why I Love Rowing,” held in-person on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 7:00 PM.
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There are many reasons to have an interest in rowing: its history, its evolution, the physics, the geography, the techniques, the benefits, the joy and the pain. There are a million stories to tell about it. This one is from rowing aficionada, Nelsie Aybar-Grau.

It all started when Nelsie moved to Kingston and she was introduced to rowing by a friend. After a few years she became certified on the Concept2 indoor rowing machine, then she picked up a Learn to Row Instructor's Certification from US Rowing. To track all the interesting things she found out about rowing she created a Facebook page and website: theRondoutRower.com. Then when asked to teach young participants in the HRMM Youthboat Project how to row a traditional wooden Whitehall boat, her interest in rowing went into high gear. Last summer she built a wooden tandem wherry AND participated in a row around Manhattan. Why is rowing so compelling, you ask?  Join us and see!

Nelsie Aybar-Grau is a longtime Hudson River Maritime Museum volunteer and rowing instructor. She is “The Rondout Rower,” and is currently working on a book on her rowing experiences.

“There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”- Kenneth Grahame
 
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.
The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related communities. 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 its floating classroom, Solaris. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.

KINGSTON, N.Y. – 2022 looks like an exciting season at the Kingston waterfront! The Sailing School at the Hudson River Maritime Museum has increased the number of weeks of its Youth Sailing Program from four to six, it has added a new introductory program for six to eight year olds, and it has added an exciting new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) class where students learn these concepts as they apply to sailing and get to test out their knowledge in on-water sessions as well as hands-on land-based classes. Classes are filling quickly, so students who are interested should sign up soon to prevent being closed out of classes.

Reach/STEM is a new series of classes for youth, ages ten to fourteen, welcoming beginning sailors as well as more experienced students. US Sailing-Certified instructors provide twenty hours of instruction in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through
hands-on experiences in the real world of sailing.

Building & Sailing Boats - Young people ages 10-17 will be introduced to woodworking, boatbuilding and sailing in this 4-day course encompassing a range of STEM focused skills and activities. Cooperation, teamwork, self-confidence, and independence will be gained as students learn to build and sail boats.
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Introduction to Youth Sailing, ages Six to Eight - This new class, for ages six to eight, introduces students to the basics of sailing in a nurturing environment designed to ensure each student feels comfortable aboard sailboats, is safe, has fun and learns some sailing concepts, while making new friends and having new experiences. ​

​Youth Sailing Program​ - Six one-week youth sailing experiences, 9 am to 4 pm, for youth ages nine to seventeen, July 11 to August 19, 2022, are taught by US Sailing certified instructors. The focus on safety, fun and learning. Mixed age and experience levels allow experienced students to take on leadership roles. New sailors learn from instructors and their peers and proceed at their own pace.

Early Registration is recommended! Scholarships are available, and we encourage everyone who is interested in learning to sail or building their sailing skills to apply.

For details about classes, scholarships, and registration for Youth Sailing School offerings, visit the Sailing School online or call (845) 338-0071.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related communities. 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 its floating classroom, Solaris. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.

 KINGSTON, N.Y. - The Hudson River Maritime Museum is happy to announce the opening of ticket sales for boat tours for the 2022 season. These programs are conducted aboard our 100% Solar Powered vessel Solaris from the Museum docks. New this year, Sunday afternoons will feature tours from our new remote dock in Rhinecliff.

Multiple tours aboard Solaris are offered each day Thursdays through Sundays, May through October. All tickets include admission to the Hudson River Maritime Museum.

Tours of the Rondout Lighthouse, cruises on the Rondout Creek, and programs on Wrecked and Abandoned vessels in the area will be offered regularly, alongside guest presentations of "Indigenous Life" by Justin Wexler, "Children's and Adults Storytelling" by Karen Pillsworth, and Sunset Cruises. Live Music Cruises will be available on Thursday nights. Some unique programs will be offered over the course of the season, such as "Climate Change Education" in July, "Children's Riddle Cruises" on Saturday mornings from June to August, and more! 

For full schedule and ticket information visit Solarboattours.org
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Solaris is a 100% solar-powered vessel built by the Hudson River Maritime Museum. It 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. She 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. Solaris is used for educational programs, public tours, and private charters and events. With near-silent running, low wake, and no engine fumes, Solaris makes the ideal "floating classroom" for children and the general public alike.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related communities. 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 its floating classroom, Solaris. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.

KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the upcoming lecture “The Hudson Valley: Weaving Geology and Climate Through Time,” by Audrey Trossen, held virtually on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 7:00 PM.

Did you know? The Hudson Valley is one of the oldest geologic regions in the United States. The world beneath our feet has undergone millennia of tremendous change. Join educator Audrey Trossen as she walks us through the geologic history of the Hudson Valley, from hundreds of millions of years ago to the near-present and into the distant future. How does the climate of the past affect the way we use land today? And how will our actions today impact our world as we march into the future? This lecture introduces the geologic history of our region and invites guests imagine the geology the Hudson valley long after we have left it.

​Audrey Trossen is an outdoor educator and museums professional dedicated to developing innovative programming, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences in physical and virtual space that connect people to the natural world around them. She graduated from Smith College in 2019 with a degree in Geosciences and Museum Studies and has served as a member of the AmeriCorps Student Conservation Association with both NYS Parks and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
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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.
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The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related communities. 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 its floating classroom, Solaris. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.

KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the upcoming lecture “Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth,” held virtually on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 7:00 PM.

The American Revolution has a new story to tell. Join historian and author Claire Bellerjeau for a talk about her new book, Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth and discover the story of Elizabeth, or Liss, enslaved by the Townsend family whose son was Washington's spy in Manhattan as part of the Culper Spy Ring.

As Robert and Elizabeth’s story unfolds, prominent figures from history cross their path, including Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Jupiter Hammon, Benedict Arnold, John André, and John Adams, as well as participants in the Boston Massacre, the Sons of Liberty, the Battle of Long Island, Franklin’s Paris negotiations, and the Benedict Arnold treason plot. Her escape with the British, re-enslavement, and struggle for freedom gives a new perspective to the country's founding, from the point of view of an enslaved Black woman seeking personal liberty in a country fighting for its own.
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The book was written with encouragement from singer Vanessa Williams, whose own family history can be traced back to Oyster Bay, Long Island, where many of the events of the book took place. Williams writes, “At a time when historically marginalized voices and stories are at last being brought to the forefront, it’s exciting to learn about a true story explaining details of the Revolutionary War on Long Island, African American history in New York, and the valiant fight for independence in a world full of loss, heartache, and eventual triumph. Claire’s research and commitment bring history to life and reveal a new African American female hero . . . Liss.”

Claire Bellerjeau is the author of Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth. Until recently she served as historian and director of education at Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, New York, and has been researching the Townsend family and those they enslaved for over sixteen years, including curating a yearlong exhibit on the Townsend “Slave Bible” in 2005. In 2015, during a research visit to the New York Historical Society, she discovered what may be one of the earliest poems ever written by Jupiter Hammon, America’s first published African American writer. She has developed educational programs about slavery in Oyster Bay and is currently establishing a non-profit organization called Remember Liss, developing new programs to educate students and the community about the life and times of Liss.

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.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related communities. 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 its floating classroom, Solaris. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Hudson River Maritime Museum will offer traditional rowing classes beginning in May. Classes on traditional open boat rowing, different from scull rowing which is also popular on the Hudson River, will help students experience this tradition which has deep roots in the region’s waterfront communities.  

Sessions are offered throughout the summer and fall and begin with on shore instruction covering the basics of rowing traditional boats. Instructors will cover boat selection, handling, maritime rules, safety, and trip planning. On-the-water practice happens on the Rondout Creek next to the museum and students will be able to test their skills with a row up the creek. Students who have taken the introductory course can sign up for Traditional Rowing 2 which includes more time out on the water and allows participants and instructors to choose from the museum’s fleet of traditional row boats for a trip to the nearby Hudson River.

Rowing has been pivotal to all working waterfronts for as long as people have taken to the water. Only in the last century was rowing replaced with motors as the main way to move people and goods around harbors and ports. Rowing classes, along with on-site woodworking and boatbuilding courses, are part of the museum’s mission to preserve maritime history, traditions and craft.  

For details about classes and to register, visit www.hrmm.org/learn-to-row or call 845-338-0071. People who have questions can contact Becky Sellinger, Wooden Boat School Manager, at bsellinger@hrmm.org. 

iINGSTON, N.Y. – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is seeking instructors for classes happening at the museum’s Wooden Boat School. Applicants are sought for part-time positions and instructors will facilitate new and existing classes. The school offers a variety of woodworking and craft classes, including popular sessions during which students can build their own Adirondack chair of wooden work bench. Also in demand is the school’s Foundations of Woodworking series which gives students an extensive introduction to working with wood as a material, use of tools, and shop safety. Adding more instructors will allow the school to offer more sessions of typically sold-out classes, as well as expand curriculum to meet the interests of the community. 

Information about the Wooden Boat School and a calendar of classes can be found at www.hrmm.org/boat-school. Instructors are given curriculum and templates for projects, and are prepared for class by the school’s lead instructor. Applicants should have fluency in their craft, teaching experience, and a passion for woodworking. Instructors will have flexibility to propose ideas for new classes that align with their skill level and interest. 

Instructors are employed part-time and on a freelance basis. Compensation is $20 per hour for materials prep time, and $25 per hour for class instruction. Materials cost is included in the cost students pay for tuition. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling bases. Prospective applicants are encouraged to apply by sending a letter of interest, CV, portfolio exemplifying skills and teaching experience (PDF or weblink), and three references. Applicants submitting a proposal for a new class are to include a summary, class format, and photos of the proposed project. Applications can be submitted via email to Becky Sellinger, Wooden Boat School Manager, at bsellinger@hrmm.org. 

About the Wooden Boat School
The Wooden Boat School was founded by the Hudson River Maritime Museum in 2015 to preserve the maritime craft traditions of the Hudson Valley and to teach a hands-on interpretation of the living history of the Hudson River. The school offers diverse curriculum and opportunities which inspire skills in woodworking, boat building, and maritime craft. Classes are available for youth and adults and range from 1-day DIY projects, YouthBuild team experiences, and group vessel builds. Learn more at www.hrmm.org/boat-school. 

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Hudson River Maritime Museum will offer a series of painting classes at the museum’s Wooden Boat School beginning in June. Students can choose from a variety of Sunday classes featuring seven local lighthouses and paint their images under the guidance of a local painter as they spend a day on the historic Kingston waterfront.

Students will leave with a finished 11x14 acrylic on canvas painting of one of the remaining lighthouses that dot the Hudson River: Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, Saugerties Lighthouse, Rondout Lighthouse, Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, Stony Point Lighthouse, Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, and the Little Red Lighthouse. Separate registration is required for each class in the series. Dedicated painters who commit to six of the classes can attend their seventh class at no charge. A list of the classes can be found at www.hrmm.org/adult-classes. No experience is necessary and the classes are open to anyone who wants to paint or is inspired by lighthouses.

• Stony Point Lighthouse – June 5, 2022
• Hudson-Athens Lighthouse – June 12, 2022
• Little Red Lighthouse – June 19, 2022
• Esopus Meadows Lighthouse – June 26, 2022
• Rondout Lighthouse – July 10, 2022
• Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse – July 17, 2022
• Saugerties Lighthouse – July 24, 2022

Painter and instructor Catherine Buchanan will provide guidance as students create their works. After studying art at San Francisco State University Catherine Buchanan worked photographing museum collections in California. She paints because she loves the challenge of creating lifelike images. Her series of large animal portraits showed in venues around San Francisco for many years and her dog paintings gained a wider audience after Pomegranate Press published a calendar. In 1999 she sailed to the South Pacific on a 40’ boat with a friend from Mexico to New Zealand, visiting more than forty islands on the way. In 2001 she moved ashore in American Samoa to open a thrift store and continue painting in the islands. Catherine is currently building her own house and painting in Kingston. www.catherinebuchanan.com

Of the dozens of lighthouses and lights that once dotted the Hudson River, only seven remain. This iconic American river, at the heart of the rise of New York City and westward expansion into the interior of the continent, was also a transportation super highway long before automobiles were invented. Throughout it all, the lighthouses kept watch, guarding the safety of the Hudson’s waterborne traffic.

This painting series coincides with the development of the film “Seven Sentinels: Lighthouses of the Hudson River,” a feature-length documentary HRMM is producing together with Moonbow Imaging. Learn more at www.hudsonriverlighthouses.org.

For details about classes and to register, visit the Wooden Boat School online at www.hrmm.org/boat-school or call 845-338-0071. People who have questions can contact Becky Sellinger, Wooden Boat School Manager, at bsellinger@hrmm.org.  

About the HRMM Wooden Boat School
The Wooden Boat School was founded by the Hudson River Maritime Museum in 2015 to preserve the maritime craft traditions of the Hudson Valley and to teach a hands-on interpretation of the living history of the Hudson River. The school offers diverse curriculum and opportunities which inspire skills in woodworking, boat building, and maritime craft. Also available are restoration services for wooden boats. Learn more at www.hrmm.org/boat-school. 

KINGSTON, N.Y. –  The Sailing School at the Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce that 2022 youth sailing programs are now open for registration. Youth sailors of all levels will have opportunities to get out onto the water as well as learn maritime science during on-shore sessions. 

A number of popular classes have returned this year and will offer more sessions. In the Building & Sailing Boats class students will spend time in the wooden boat school as they craft and then launch their own boat into the nearby Rondout Creek. The new Reach/STEM series welcomes beginner sailors with 20 hours of STEM-focused sailing activities. A summary of classes appears below:   

Reach/STEM - A new series of classes for youth (age 10-14) welcoming beginning sailors as well as more experienced students. US Sailing-certified instructors provide 20 hours of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum with hands-on experiences in the real world of sailing.  

Building & Sailing Boats – Students (age 10-17) will be introduced to woodworking, boatbuilding and sailing in this 4-day course encompassing a range of STEM-focused skills and activities. Participants will develop skills and experience with cooperation, teamwork, self-confidence, and independence as they learn to build and sail boats.  

Introduction to Youth Sailing (Age 6-8) – A new class for students age 6-8 immersing them in the basics of sailing within a nurturing environment where each becomes comfortable and confident aboard sailboats. Young sailors will be safe, have fun, and learn sailing concepts while making new friends and having new experiences.  

Youth Sailing Program - Six 1-week youth sailing experiences for students age 9-17. Sessions will run July 11-August 19, 9am-4pm. Sessions are taught by US Sailing-certified instructors and focus on safety, fun and learning. Mixed age groups and experience levels allow experienced students to take on leadership roles. New sailors will learn from instructors and their peers as they proceed at their own pace. 

Early registration for classes is recommended. Students who register before March 15 can take advantage of last season’s pricing which will increase after that date. Safety is always a priority at the HRMM Sailing School and information about how we are keeping people safe can be found on the school’s website.

Details and registration can be found online at www.hrmm.org/youth-sailing-program. The school also offers a lineup of classes for adults and details can be found at www.hrmm.org/adult-sailing. People who have questions are welcome to call the museum at 845-338-0071.

About the HRMM Sailing School
The Sailing School at Hudson River Maritime Museum offers a variety of sailing experiences for youth and adult students. Classes are available for every level of experience and include 1-day introductory sessions, youth groups, and certification opportunities. The school hosts the annual Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference each November and is the only US-Sailing-accredited sailing school in the Hudson Valley. Learn more at www.hrmm.org/sailing-school.  

KINGSTON, N.Y. –  The Sailing School at the Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce that 2022 adult sailing programs are now open for registration. Adult sailors of all levels will find a variety of on-the-water classes beginning in May 2022.

Popular classes include First Sail, an introductory session aboard the museum’s classic catboat Tidbit, with a US Sailing-certified instructor. No experience is necessary and students will learn hands-on basics as they experience two hours on the beautiful Rondout Creek and Hudson River. More experienced sailors can register for the school’s US Sailing Basic Keelboat, a 21-hour course covering crew operations, heavy weather sailing, and more. Qualified students will have the opportunity for certification following the course. A summary of classes appears below. 

First Sail - Offers an introduction to sailing aboard the museum’s classic catboat Tidbit with a US Sailing certified instructor. Learn the basics of sailing and enjoy two hours on the beautiful Rondout Creek and Hudson River. Beginners are welcome, as are experienced sailors. Instructors will customize for the participants in each class. 

Adult Keelboat Sailing Series - A three-session series of classes designed for adult students (18 and older) who are new to keelboat sailing or who would like to learn more about keelboat sailing. US Sailing-certified instructors will teach or review the basics of sailing onboard a stable 24-25 foot keelboat.  Participants will practice crew skills as well as sailing the boat. Instructor/student ratio is 1:4. 

Adult Centerboard Sailing Series - Students in this three-session series of classes sail on the museum’s 14- and 16-foot Capri centerboard sailboats. Students need to be agile and able to move around tender sailboats comfortably.  The series is designed for adults with no prior experience and for those with some experience who wish to learn more about sailing centerboard boats. Students will sail with a US Sailing Certified instructor and two other adults.

US Sailing Basic Keelboat – A course open to adult beginning sailors as well as those who are more experienced. This 21-hour class covers a robust curriculum created by US Sailing, the national governing body of the sport. The course will use the "basic keelboat" textbook published by US Sailing and taught primarily on-the-water aboard the school's 24-25 foot stable keel boats. Students will practice on-the-water skills to gain confidence in operating their vessels. At the end of the course, qualified students will have the option of taking the test to qualify for US Sailing Basic Keelboat certification. 


Early registration for classes is recommended. Students who register before March 15 can take advantage of last season’s pricing which will increase after that date. Safety is always a priority at the HRMM Sailing School and information about how we are keeping people safe can be found on the school’s website.

Details and registration can be found online at www.hrmm.org/adult-sailing. The school also offers a lineup of classes for youth as well and details can be found at www.hrmm.org/youth-sailing-program. People who have questions are welcome to call the museum at 845-338-0071.

About the HRMM Sailing School
The Sailing School at Hudson River Maritime Museum offers a variety of sailing experiences for youth and adult students. Classes are available for every level of experience and include 1-day introductory sessions, youth groups, and certification opportunities. The school hosts the annual Riverport Women’s Sailing Conference each November and is the only US-Sailing-accredited sailing school in the Hudson Valley. Learn more at www.hrmm.org/sailing-school.