Hudson River Maritime Museum

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is located in Kingston NY, and has been around since 1980. The museum is dedicated to collecting information and artifacts relating to the history of maritime operations on the Hudson. The 19th and 20th centuries saw dramatic increases in traffic on the river thanks to developing industries and technology, which makes this era the focus of the museum. Historical crafts displayed by the museum vary from old kayaks and lifeboats to the Mathilda, a 19th century tugboat which has been permanently dry docked. The museum also displays countless models of ships and boats that once sailed the Hudson.Visitors can learn about the industries that have shaped the Hudson and how the maritime history has had an impact on the entire state. Because the museum is located on the shore of Rondout Creek, a tributary of the Hudson, it has access to many more historical vessels. Dozens of ships visit each year to spread more knowledge of maritime heritage. The visiting ships vary widely. There are NYC Fire Department ships, and even replica Spanish galleons. Visitors get to tour the different ships and learn about them from the people who sail them. One of the museum’s partner ships, Clearwater, is a sloop founded by folk singer Pete Seeger. The ship and its organization are dedicated to environmentalism, and it frequently works with the museum as a way to raise awareness of environmental issues along the Hudson. It is going to be the central figure of the museum’s upcoming exhibit on the river’s environmental history. The exhibit is meant to make people aware of past problems alongside new ones which still endanger the river. This is what the other interns and I will be researching.

Alongside the exhibits and visiting ships, the museum holds various events and classes throughout the year. They have walking tours of the waterfront where visitors learn about the industrial and maritime heritage of the area, along with history cruises which are hosted by lecturers who cover different historical themes on the river. The museum holds monthly educational lectures which cover various topics related to the Hudson, including one in less than a week which is about the history of environmentalism on the Hudson. Classes are also held which instruct participants in practices like woodworking and sailing. There are youth sailing programs which aim to get kids interested in boating and give them experience. The classes and events serve two main purposes for the museum. First, they spread knowledge of history, boating, and environmentalism so that people will get involved more with the museum and its partners. The museum acts as a way for the public to interact in a more hands-on fashion with all the different fields relating to the Hudson. Second, and most important for a small museum, the events and classes bring money into the museum. They are needed to fund the running of the museum which can’t just be covered by admission fees. The Hudson River Maritime Museum provides a service to the public through education and training. It spreads knowledge and interest to make a more enlightened and engaged public.