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.
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.