On the Horizon - Work in Progress

The 2009 Champlain-Hudson Sojourn

Kayak from the foot of Lake Champlain in Québec to Manhattan. Tentatively scheduled to begin June 28, this event will last 22 days and will feature a core group of Thru-Paddlers, which are people kayaking the entire trip. This event will cover approximately 340 miles with paddlers camping at state and local parks along the way. The Champlain-Hudson Sojourn will be modeled on the Hudson River Valley Greenway's Great Hudson River Paddle.

For more information visit: The Hudson River Water Trail Association

Hudson 400

For Albany the year 2009 will mark the 400th anniversary of it's founding by European explorer, Henry Hudson. The Hudson 400 committee is developing an outline of legacy projects, signature events, community celebrations, media events and educational projects specific to Albany and its Dutch Heritage.

For more information visit: http://www.Hudson400.com

The Newburgh, Hudson-Fulton Champlain Celebration Committee

In 1909, Newburgh Bay hosted a grand Hudson-Fulton Celebration, which brought thousands of visitors to this city. Plans are under way to celebrate the 2009 anniversaries in the Newburgh Bay, the geographical "pivot point" of the achievements of Hudson, Fulton and Champlain. The Newburgh committee meets monthly on the third Wednesday at the Newburgh Heritage Center and includes neighbors from riverfront towns along both sides of the mid-Hudson.

For more information visit: http://www.newburgh-ny.com/HFC/NewburghBay.htm
Email: newburghhistory@usa.com
Phone: (845) 569-8090

Dutch New York

Thirteen/WNET in New York City and WMHT in Albany are proposing a two hour television documentary and an education outreach component designed to examine the Dutch history of New York and its impact on American society and culture. The documentary will be hosted by David Hartman and historian Barry Lewis and will chronicle the Dutch legacy in New York State. The broadcast will combine historical re-enactments with expert interviews and will be shot on location in Manhattan, Albany, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and in Amsterdam, Holland.

The project's educational outreach program will include an extensive web component as well as comprehensive education materials including lesson plans and curriculum training for teachers across the state.

For more information contact: Peter Repas via email: prepas_apbs@wxxi.org

The Henry Hudson 400 Foundation

The Henry Hudson 400 Foundation will celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's legendary third voyage with commemorations in both Amsterdam and New York City:

Amsterdam City Festival: a three day event in July 2009, centered at the Maritime Museum in the old harbor where historic sailing vessels will be moored.

A transatlantic race between a large fleet of American and Dutch vessels, followed by a flotilla of the vessels leaving from Newport and arriving in New York Harbor.

New York City festival: a three-day event in September 2009 around Battery Park with special exhibitions planned throughout the city to commemorate the event.

The Legacy Project

The Legacy of New Netherland, An Exhibition by the New Netherland Institute. This exhibit will explore the history of New Netherland, the pre-revolutionary war period (17th and 18th century), and will focus on Albany and New York City. Exhibit artifacts will include rare manuscripts, maps, exploration journals, fine art and material from the United States and abroad. The exhibit will bring to light the impact of the colony's distinctly New Netherland culture and show the many ways in which its legacy is still visible.

The Steamboat Bicentennial

The year 2007 will mark the 200th anniversary of the launching of the world's first practical steamboat, known to history as the Clermont. For the past two years the Steamboat Bicentennial Committee has been developing an appropriate celebration of this landmark event. Plans include a major exhibition at Clermont State Historic Site, an exhibit catalog, a two-day symposium in cooperation with Bard College, school and community outreach programs and a Steamboat
Days Festival.

For more information visit: http://www.friendsofclermont.org