It’s been four centuries since this Dutch explorer discovered the Hudson River. Check out the events slated for the year-long celebrations throughout New York State.
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On April 4, 1609, Henry Hudson set sail unceremoniously from Amsterdam with a small crew aboard his ship, the Half Moon. In his third attempt to find a passage to China, foul weather forced a detour, bringing the ship to the northeast coast of North America. Sailing along the coast, Hudson and his crew came upon a “a very good harbor for all windes[sic].” The discovery led to the founding of New Amsterdam and, eventually, New York City. Exploring the river that would be named for him, he sailed almost to Albany before reversing course, convinced he would not find the passage he sought.
While he may not have found what he was looking for, 400 years later Henry Hudson’s voyage and discovery is being celebrated with numerous programs, events and exhibitions up and down the Hudson River. Here’s a sampling of some of the best Hudson 400 events throughout the year.
This tour of Lower Manhattan will be available for download to handheld mobile devices and as a printed brochure available at various tourist sites around the city. Russell Shorto, author of The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America, narrates the tour with stops at New York Harbor (speculating on the exact spot where Hudson dropped anchor), Fort Amsterdam (now the site of the Museum of the American Indian) and The Singel (the northern edge of Dutch Manhattan). May 1 to Dec. 31, 2009. Lower Manhattan. Visit www.henryhudson400.com for more information.
WalkingGeek
Inspired by the grand gardens of Holland, this Dutch bulb flower show at the New York Botanical Garden will feature over 50,000 bulbs, with a concentration on lilies and tulips. The “crowning glory” will be the rare Dutch tulip Tulipa ‘Duc van Tol’ the oldest in the Netherlands’ historic collection. May 1 to June 7, 2009. New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard, Bronx. Tel. 718-817-8700. Admission: $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, $1 for children ages 2 to 12, free for children under 2. Open Tue. to Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.nybg.org
Dutch flat-bottom boats (distinctive low-slung skutsjes, fishing boats and barges) will sail into New York Harbor. The boats are similar to those that sailed along the Dutch coast during the 17th century and the first ships constructed in New York. A grand naval parade, a flotilla of lighted ships and a sail upriver are all planned. Sept. 1 to 20, 2009. New York Harbor, New York. For more information and to confirm dates of specific events, visit www.henryhudson400.com or e-mail NY2009@spts.nl for more information about the fleet.
There are dozens more events happening in New York State at destinations all along the famed Hudson River in honor of the 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage. For more event information, visit these Web sites:
Westchester County Office of Tourism
Albany County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Henry Hudson 400 Foundation
The Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial
Hudson River Valley
Everything Dutch
Traditional Dutch canal houses, open-air stages and windmills will be constructed to present a traditional version of Holland (yes, wooden shoemaking included). For a more contemporary portrait, a greenhouse will demonstrate innovations and energy-saving technologies developed in the Netherlands, a global leader in the industry. Sept. 5 to 15, 2009. Bowling Green Park, Broadway and Beaver streets, New York. www.ny400.org
This one-time-only performance art festival will bring together 150 artists from the Netherlands and New York to create art installations, open-air performance and other art projects. Governors Island will become a temporary art colony, including the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, a temporary theater street with nostalgic theater tents, bars, restaurants and an antique merry-go-round. Sept. 10 to 20, 2009. Governors Island, New York. In late March, more information will be available at www.newamsterdamfestival.com.
The exhibit at the South Street Seaport Museum features important (and “visually exciting”) 17th century New York maps and documents from the Dutch National Archives and public and private collections. The highlight is a letter from Pieter Schaghen, dated Nov. 5, 1626, in which, amongst a list of items, the purchase of Manhattan for 60 guilders is noted. Historians have stated Native Americans viewed the agreement as a leasing of the land, not a sale. Sept. 14 to Dec. 31, 2009. South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., New York. Tel. 212-748-8725. Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, $5 for children ages 5 to 12, free for children under 5. Open Tue. to Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mon. www.henryhudson400.com. For more information on the museum, visit www.southstreetseaportmuseum.org.
Comments
1 Comments on this article | read all commentsby Pappy on August 14, 2009
Thank you! This was very helpful. This little well written piece has me wanting to do this trip! And maybe throw in Cooperstown.