Hudson River Maritime Museum
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The Hudson River

One of the most important waterways in American history, the Hudson River was named after British explorer Henry Hudson, who sailed up the river in 1609. Before Hudson, however, dozens of Native American tribes lived along the banks of the Hudson and used it as a source of food and as a major highway.

Stretching almost straight north, the Hudson is deep, wide, and tidal. The tides in particular made it easier for sailboats to navigate the river.  Fishing and transportation were the major commercial uses of the river. Commercial and subsistence fishing began with Native peoples and continued up until the 1970s, when fisheries in the Hudson began to collapse. Although they are recovering today, many species of fish are banned from consumption, including sturgeon, which has be begun to recover, and shad, which has not. 

Transportation began with Hudson River sloops and other vessels, progressed through steamships, towboats and tugs, to modern tugs and pleasure vessels. 

The construction of the Erie Canal in 1825 opened up shipments from the west via the Great Lakes and was instrumental in expanding settlement in the northern plains and Great Lakes region. Other canals that led to the Hudson were also developed during this period; the Champlain Canal was officially completed in 1823 and the Delaware & Hudson Canal (D&H Canal) in 1828.

Tourism and leisure along the Hudson River began in the 18th century and blossomed in the early 19th century and continues to today. In fact, tourism is one of the main economic engines of the modern Hudson River Valley. 

Many of the public domain books below are tourist-related or are early histories of the Hudson. The dates are noted so that the texts may be placed in historical context. 

The Tourist, or Pocket Manual for Travellers on the Hudson River, etc. by Robert J. Vandewater (1831)


Letters About the Hudson River and Its Vicinity Written in 1835 and 1836 by A Citizen of New York (1836)


The Tourist, or Pocket Manual for Travellers on the Hudson River, etc. by Robert J. Vandewater (1839)


The Hudson River by Daylight by Thursty McQuills (c. 1880)


Rand McNally & Co's Illustrated Guide to the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains by Ernest Ingersoll (1893)


The Hudson River: From Ocean to Source by Edgar Mayhew Bacon (1902)


The Hudson River Outlet From The Erie Canal To The Sea: An Address by William B. Jones (1907)

Hudson River Maritime Museum
50 Rondout Landing
Kingston, NY 12401

​845-338-0071
fax: 845-338-0583
info@hrmm.org

​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. ​

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  • Home
    • About
    • Join Our Mailing List
    • Contact Us
    • Board >
      • Join Our Board
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Work With Us
  • Visit
    • Hours And Directions
    • Parking
    • Museum Store >
      • Museum Online Store
    • Docking
    • Book A Charter
    • Rondout Lighthouse
    • Facility Rentals
    • Area Attractions
  • Museum
    • Lighthouse Film
    • RiverWise >
      • Documentary Films
    • Museum at Home
    • Exhibits >
      • New Age of Sail
      • Warning Signs
      • Mary Powell
      • Rescuing the River
      • Online Exhibits
    • Lecture Series
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Walking Tours
    • School Programs
  • Boat Tours
    • All Boat Tours
    • Meet Solaris
    • Lighthouse Tours
    • History Tours
    • Tasting History
    • Special Guest Tours
    • Ecology Tours
    • Evening Cruises
    • Private Charters >
      • Visiting Vessels >
        • Maiden
        • Eleanor
        • John J Harvey
        • Kalmar Nyckel
        • Impossible Dream
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Exhibit Opening
    • Lecture Series
    • Pilot Gala
    • Celebration of Woodworking >
      • Kingston Boat Builders Challenge
      • Sponsor
    • RiverWise
    • Riverport Women's Sailing Conference
    • NE Grain Race
    • Sail Freight Conference
  • Boat School
    • Wooden Boat, Sailing, & Rowing Blog
    • Youth Classes
    • Adult Classes
    • Instructors
    • Maritime Training
    • RWBS Library
    • Restoration
  • Sailing
    • Sailing School
    • Adult Sailing
    • Youth Sailing Program
    • Student Resources
    • Sea Scouts
    • Sailing Instructors
  • Rowing
    • Learn to Row
    • Rowing Instructors
  • Research
    • Research Requests
    • Research Library Catalog
    • Collections >
      • Digital Collections
    • History Blog
    • RiverWise
    • Submerged Resources Project
    • Pilot Log
    • Hudson River History >
      • Henry Hudson
      • The Hudson River
      • Sloops of the Hudson River
      • Robert Fulton
      • Hudson River Steamboats
      • New York Canals
  • Support
    • Member Login
    • Become A Member
    • Donate
    • Memorial Donation
    • Donate Items
    • Artifact Donations
    • Wish List
    • Boat Donations
    • Planned Giving
    • Volunteer
    • Museum Store
    • Library Membership
    • Business Supporters
    • Green Museum
    • Our Sponsors