A Celebration 400 Years in the Making
In 2009 the State of New York is celebrating a voyage of exploration that, while failing in its stated mission, opened a continent to colonization and commerce.
In the spring of 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman renowned for his Arctic explorations, set out to find a water route to the Orient. His employers, the Dutch East India Company, were looking for a shortcut to give them a competitive advantage against their arch rivals – the English. His ship sailed into the harbor discovered by explorer Giovanni da Verrazano some 85 years earlier, but rather than turning around, he continued north in search of the elusive passage to Asia. The three-masted yacht Halve Maene (Half Moon) continued upstream, reaching the latitudes near present-day Albany in September 1609. Hudson and his crew became the first Europeans to sail up the river that now bears his name.
In a strange twist of fate, French explorer Samuel de Champlain was also on a voyage of discovery in what is now northeastern New York, traveling in the opposite direction, south on the lake that was later named for him. Hudson and Champlain’s expeditions missed meeting by mere months and about 100 miles.
In addition, for voyages that took place during the bicentennial anniversary of these events, Robert Fulton is being remembered as the man who made travel on the Hudson River affordable, expeditious, and even glamorous with the launch of the steamboat Clermont.
During 2009 local, state, national and international leaders are working together to orchestrate a meaningful celebration of these voyages that resulted in the rise of the Empire State and helped shape the future of the United States.
The Preservation League of New York State is using its endangered properties program, Seven to Save, to support and enhance the year-long commemoration of the voyages of Henry Hudson, Samuel de Champlain and Robert Fulton.
By giving voice to these seven disparate sites, the League is helping to illustrate the heroic saga of the exploration and settlement of the Hudson and Champlain valleys.
Select a year at left to review additional information and updated status for recipients.
Originally, Seven to Save sites were announced at the end of each year. In order to re-align the announcement of the list with the calendar year during which the staff would address the issues, the League moved what would have been the listings for the end of 2004 forward to January, 2005. Therefore, there is no 2004 list.
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