Hudson River Scenic and Historic Walking Tours

The Hudson Valley extends 150 miles above the tip of Manhattan. Designated as a National Heritage Area, the valley is steeped in history, natural beauty, culture, food and farmers’ markets.

Colonial Era The first Dutch settlement was established at Fort Nassau, a trading post south of modern day Albany, in the early 17^th century, with the purpose of exchanging European goods for beaver pelts. The valley also became one of the major regions of conflict during the American Revolution.

19^th Century following the building of the Erie Canal, the area became an important industrial center as the canal opened the Hudson Valley and New York to commerce with the Midwest and the Great Lakes.

The natural beauty of the Hudson Valley has earned the Hudson River the nickname "America's Rhineland" a comparison to the famous 40 mile (65 km) stretch of Germany's Rhine River valley.

Navigation the Hudson is navigable for a great distance above mile 0 off Battery Park. The original Erie Canal connected it with Lake Erie enabling shipping between cities on the Great Lakes and Europe via the Atlantic Ocean. The Hudson Valley also proved attractive for railroads, once technology progressed to the point where it was feasible to construct the required bridges over tributaries.

The Erie Canal Cruise or Walk through Historic Villages and Natural Landscapes

Biking, Walking Driving Itineraries and outdoor adventures in the Hudson River Valley includes biking, hiking, horseback riding, golf, kayaking, parasailing, archery and skeet shooting.

Dutchess County is 800 square miles of natural scenic beauty, historic and cultural landmarks, and outdoor recreation. Stroll the Walkway Over the Hudson. Tour and taste along the Dutchess Wine Trail. Explore the homes of FDR and Vanderbilt. Taste new creations at The Culinary Institute of America. Fill the pantry at farm markets. Cruise the Hudson River. 

Hudson River Valley Scenic and Historic Walking Tours

Rockland County is located just 30 miles north of New York City and is known for its quaint villages, spectacular river views and outdoor recreation with 32,000 acres of parklands dotted with sparkling lakes and streams rushing down to the Hudson. Miles marked trails lead right to the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains.

The Village of Piermont formerly Tappan Landing it is is located by a navigable tidal creek linking the Hudson River with Orangetown and the interior. In the 1830s, a pier and a rail link made it the southern terminus connection to Lake Erie. Following the Civil War and the launching of the Nyack and Northern passenger rail line, the Village of Piermont started attracting tourism from nearby New York City.

Upstate New York is home to City and Country Settings and High-tech Industries

Finger Lakes and Watkins Glen State Park is the site of 19 waterfalls and a gorge. Seneca Lake is a long slender lake with wineries along both sides. From Geneva, on the north shore of the lake, you can head east towards Syracuse and visit Destiny USA, sixth largest shopping destination in the United States.

Genesee County Village and Museum is the largest living history museum in the state; a restored 19^th century village with historic buildings, craftspeople in authentic dress, a nature center, wildlife gallery and a vintage baseball park.

Atlantic Coast Ports and Rivers Itinerary

New York City Hudson River Jersey Shore Philadelphia Delaware River Valley Savannah and Palm Beach

New York City is situated in the southeastern New York State at the mouth of the Hudson helping the city grow in significance as a trading port. The land has been altered by human intervention, with considerable land reclamation along the waterfronts since Dutch colonial times.

The Fort Schuyler Museum is housed on the campus of the State University of New York Maritime College at historic Fort Schuyler, in the Bronx. The center bastion is dedicated to the history of Fort Schuyler, completed in 1856, and the Port of New York-New Jersey, both of which played major roles in the development of regional and the national commerce.

The Evolution of Seafaring exhibit encompasses maritime history from the ancient Phoenicians to present day steamship companies and passenger ship lines, with information on Clippers, famous naval battles fought in the United States during the 1700s and 1800s and the technology in ship building
tools and navigational equipment used throughout different maritime eras.

Newburgh is situated on land that rises sharply to a bluff; many historic homes are located here with sweeping views of the Hudson river and highlands to the south. Newburgh's preservation history can be traced to 1850 when Washington's Headquarters was designated a state historic site, the first in the country.

Kingston was New York's first capital in 1777; in the 19^th century, the city was a transport hub, with rail and canal connections. The city has three historic districts: Stockade, the Midtown Broadway Corridor, and Rondout West Strand downtown. Kingston Landing is a short navigable distance from the Hudson River and the point of reference for coal shipments and bluestone via the Delaware and Hudson Canal.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is located at 50 Rondout Landing at the foot of Broadway along the old waterfront. Its collections are devoted to the history of shipping and industry on the Hudson. In the early 1800s, four sloops plied the river from Kingston to New York. By 1829, steamers made the trip to Manhattan in a little over twelve hours, usually travelling by night.

Rondout ​Walking Tours highlight the industrial history of the region

Tuckerton Borough Seaport New Jersey and the Bay Men Museum nestled in Southern Ocean County between the Pine Barrens and the Bay Tuckerton Borough was once a thriving seaport community. Ocean County is home to one-third of the Jersey Shore’s 44 miles of the Atlantic Ocean coastline with sandy beaches, surfing, fishing and water sports.

Tuckerton Seaport preserves and interprets the rich maritime history, artistry, heritage and environment of the Jersey shore and the unique contributions of its bay men. An educational and interpretive center showcasing New Jersey’s rich maritime history and contemporary folklife through interpretation of the cultural heritage and environment of the New Jersey shore and the surrounding environment.

The Tucker’s Island Lighthouse features exhibits on privateers and pirates of the Jersey Coast

The Delaware River Valley is the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia, the region's major commercial, cultural, and industrial center. The region’s excellent road and rail network make it the perfect location for a vacation or business trip to the Middle Atlantic States.

 Rivers History and the Environment

The Delaware River is comprised of 36 tributaries and flows 330 miles from New York to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware to the Atlantic Ocean. It extends from the Catskill and Pocono mountain springs and streams flowing down to the Delaware Water Gap where steep slopes give way to gently rolling hills and sweeping valleys. Then, it stretches 134 miles from the Trenton falls to the mouth of the Delaware Bay.   

The River Town of Marcus Hook’s historical significance comes from its identity as a maritime town. Originally a Lenape settlement, it became a New Sweden trading post in the 1640s with shipbuilding and fishing as early industries. The Hook was also a haven for pirates in the early 18th century and its market provided a place to sell plundered goods and re-supply for their next voyage.

The Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild maintains and sails historic ships to bring the past to the present. A non-profit organization that teaches and practices seamanship, traditional restoration, maritime culture, and sailing skills in a fun and team focused setting.

The Independence Seaport Museum features the Schooner Diligence, designed and built by Joshua and Samuel Humphreys in Philadelphia in 1797 for the Revenue-Marine and later transferred to the Navy. Schooners like Diligence played a vital role in the development of the early Navy in defending American merchant ships from attacks by Britain, France and the Barbary pirates. 

The original Diligence served in the West Indies Squadron under John Barry, who commanded the Frigate United States during the Quasi War with France in 1798-1800.

Savannah Georgia was founded in 1733 on the Savannah River, it became the colonial capital and later the first state capital of Georgia. Its port was of strategic importance during both the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Diverse Neighborhoods over 100 distinct neighborhoods can be identified in six principal areas of Savannah. The city's location offers visitors access to the coastal islands and the Savannah Riverfront, both popular tourist destinations.

The Savannah Historic District is one of largest in the United States

Architecture Savannah was named as America's second-best city for Cool Buildings and Architecture, behind Chicago. The historic district has 22 squares that vary in size and character, from formal fountain and monuments to playgrounds.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Educational Programs

Women Pirates like Rachel Wall, Grace O’Malley and Madame Cheng are featured in an interactive program about the exciting role female pirates played in maritime history. 

USS Savannah and her storied history of service in the United States Navy, from 1933-1946, on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, from operation Torch to operation Magic Carpet.

Palm Beach Florida and the Maritime Museum. Palm Beach is the easternmost town in Florida, located on an 18-mile (29 km) long barrier island between Lake Worth Lagoon on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

The wreck of the Providencia is credited with giving Palm Beach its famous name. The Providencia was traveling from Havana to Spain with a cargo of coconuts harvested in Trinidad, when the ship-wrecked near Palm Beach. Many of the coconut were planted along the coast and a grove of palm trees soon grew on what was later named Palm Beach. Today the tallest coconut palms in the United States can be found along this coast.

The Lake Worth portion of the waterway, filled with mega-yachts, was a freshwater lake until Henry Flagler opened it to the ocean. Flagler was the railroad tycoon who opened Florida all the way to the Keys and his Lake Worth mansion, now a museum, is open for tours.

John F. Kennedy's Bunker was constructed by the Sea Bees under the direction of the Secret Service.

An innovative Virtual Port includes automated data collection from in situ sensors - salinity, turbidity, pH, tides, current - as well as real-time television both above and underwater.

The Palm Beach Maritime Academy is a Charter School, operated by the Palm Beach Maritime Museum that meets the guidelines for the School District of Palm Beach County, with a focus on maritime studies.

Kingston New York

Industry and Commerce along the Delaware Canal and Hudson River              

Located 91 miles (146 km) north of New York City, Kingston was New York's first capital in 1777; in the 19^th century, the city was a transport hub, with rail and canal connections. The city has three historic districts: Stockade, the Midtown Broadway Corridor, and Rondout West Strand downtown.

Kingston Landing is a short navigable distance from the Hudson River and the point of reference for coal shipments and bluestone via the Delaware and Hudson Canal.

Kingston Albany and New York City were the three major Dutch Settlements on the Hudson River

In the early 1800s, four sloops plied the river from Kingston to New York. By 1829, steamers made the trip to Manhattan in a little over twelve hours, usually travelling by night.

The Hudson River Maritime Museum is located at 50 Rondout Landing at the foot of Broadway along the old waterfront. Its collections are devoted to the history of shipping and industry on the Hudson. In the early 1800s, four sloops plied the river from Kingston to New York. By 1829, steamers made the trip to Manhattan in a little over twelve hours, usually travelling by night.

Industry and Commerce the Delaware and Hudson Canal brought an influx of laborers to manage the coal terminal and the Newark Lime and Cement Company shipped cement throughout the United States. Also, large warehouses of ice sat beside the Hudson River from which the ice was cut during the winter and preserved all year to be used in early refrigeration. Large brick making factories were also located close to this shipping hub. Rondout's central location as a shipping hub ended with the advent of railroads.

The Rondout neighborhood is known for its artists' community and its numerous art galleries

Transit Kingston CitiBus provides service within the city and to Port Ewen and commuter service is available by bus to New York City. Amtrak Rail Terminals are located 11 miles (20 km) and 17 miles (30 km) away in Poughkeepsie. Stewart International Airport is 39 miles (62.8 km) south in Newburgh. Weekend water taxi service between Kingston and Rhinecliff. The Catskill Mountain Railroad, a scenic railroad company, runs trains from Kingston. Ongoing projects connect Kingston's three neighborhoods with a combination of rail trails, bike lanes and complete streets connections.

The Historic Districts of Newburgh New York

The East End is the lower portion of what New York state and the city recognize as a single historic district along with Montgomery, Grand and Liberty Streets.

The Montgomery Grand Liberty Streets was the first of two to be designated in the city. It runs along the north-south streets in the northeast quadrant of the city and includes 250 buildings in its 1,010 acres (4.1 km²). Much of the district's historical character comes from its historic homes built by industrialists to take advantage the Hudson River views available from the neighborhood.

The Newburgh Historic Districts include much of the southeastern quarter of the city

Most of the East End buildings were constructed during the height of industrial development in the 19^th century, as opposed to the villas and mansions in the Montgomery Grand Liberty district. They housed many of the city's working-class population and the small businesses that served them.

The East End District rises gently from the riverside area to mildly rolling higher ground and is roughly bounded by Robinson Avenue to the west, Water Street and Bay View Terrace on the east, Monument and Renwick streets to the south and LeRoy Place and Broadway to the north. This area of Newburgh, combined with the other district, represents the core of the settled city by the end of the 19^th century.

Industrial properties are concentrated closer to the river, while the higher neighborhoods are mostly residential, with some institutional buildings such as schools and churches. There are a few commercial areas, most notably along Liberty Street opposite Washington's Headquarters. The two districts include 4,000 properties, the most of any historic district in New York. The 2,239 in the East End alone are the most of any federally recognized district in the state.

Architecture much of the district is characterized by two- or three-story brick Italianate style townhomes. In Washington Heights, where there are views of the river, there are Victorian style houses.

The houses on and near Parmenter Street, one block west of Washington's Headquarters, are the only part of Newburgh that still reflects the village character of the settlement from the turn of the 19^th century.

The Oldest Property in the district and the city, Jonathan Hasbrouck's 1750 stone house, was George Washington's residence during the years between the Yorktown surrender and final withdrawal from the American colonies in 1783.

The New York State Armory on Broadway had been vacant for decades; t now houses the Orange County Social Services operations in the city.

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Newburgh Port Jervis and Middletown in Orange County New York

 Located in southeastern New York State, Orange County is directly north of the border with New Jersey, west of the Hudson River, east of the Delaware and northwest of New York City. Points of interest in Orange County include the US Military Academy at West Point, America’s oldest winery in Washingtonville, the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, the first cold press daily in the nation in Middletown.

Orange County is the only county which borders the Hudson and the Delaware Rivers

Transportation the region is served by Stewart International, located west Newburgh, and providing national and international flights. Ground transportation consists of bus service within Orange County and rail to New York City.

History Orange County was established in1683, when the Province of New York was divided into twelve counties. At that time, the only inhabitants of the area were the native Munsee people, with the first European settlers arriving in 1685 consisting of twenty-five families from Scotland. In 1709, a group of German Palatine refugees settled in Newburgh; the Dutch and English arrived in 1712 and additional immigrants came from Ireland. In 1798, after the American Revolutionary War, the boundaries of Orange County changed; the southern end was ceded to the new Rockland County and an area north of Moodna Creek was added.

Port Jervis is at the confluence of the Neversink and Delaware Rivers in the western part of the county and north of the Delaware Water Gap. Port Jervis industrial history includes a role in shipping coal to major markets to the southeast by canal and later by railroads as well as long-distance rail passenger service until 1970. Today, tourists pass through Port Jervis on their way to enjoying rafting, kayaking, canoeing and other activities in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational Region.

Port Jervis is named for Delaware and Hudson Canal Chief Engineer John Bloomfield Jervis

Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh. Incorporated as a city in 1888. It grew in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries as a stop on several lower New York State railroads, attracting small manufacturing businesses. The surrounding area is partly devoted to small dairy farms. The downtown area is home to an active bar and restaurant scene, historic churches, and prosperous neighborhoods like Presidential Heights. Highland Avenue is lined with large Victorian houses, some of the largest of which are now used as nursing homes.

Newburgh  is situated on land that rises sharply to a bluff; many historic homes are located here with sweeping views of the Hudson river and highlands to the south. Newburgh's preservation history can be traced to 1850 when Washington's Headquarters was designated a state historic site, the first in the country. The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands was chartered by the State of New York in 1884. The David Crawford House on Montgomery Street, built in 1834, is the current home of the Newburgh Historical Society. The city's modern preservation efforts led to the development of a historic district the second largest in New York State. The city's historic architecture features historic designs by Andrew Jackson Downing, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

Newburgh was designated a Preserve America community in 2005

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