Albany, New York 

12210 

information@

albanyinstitute.org

THE HUDSON RIVER: SYMBOL OF AMERICA

Past, Present... and Future

February 7, 2009 – January 3, 2010

Landing Place, Albany

John E. Regan

1862

Watercolor on paper, ht. 11 7/8 in., w. 17 ¾ in.

Albany Institute of History & Art

Gift of Ledyard Cogswell

u1977.321

Flowing south for 315 miles, from the Adirondack wilderness to the Verazzano Narrows, the Hudson River is more than a waterway; it has become a symbol of a nation. As part of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadracentennial Celebration in 2009, the Albany Institute is preparing a major exhibition, catalogue, and website to commemorate the history and culture of the Hudson River and the people who have used and lived along its renowned watercourse. Woven throughout the exhibition, historical artifacts, works of art, and written records will give voice to those diverse people. Their stories and the material objects that filled their world reveal how the Hudson River has aided trade and commerce, provided leisure opportunities and tourist attractions, transported people and opened a nation to settlement and growth. What they tell is a story about a river and a history of a nation.

The exhibit will include the following eight themes, each of which will contribute to an understanding of the Hudson River’s significance in the formation of the United States and its national identity and its future.

The Age of Exploration: In 1609, the Dutch East India Company hired Englishman Henry Hudson to find the elusive Northwest Passage, a fabled all-water route to Asia. Instead Hudson’s voyage led to the first European settlements of Hudson River Valley and contact with Native cultures.

Military and Strategic Prominence: The Hudson River’s strategic location at the “crossroads of empire” was a vital connector for the control and flow of military forces from the 17^{th  -} 19^th centuries.

Transportation and Commerce: The Hudson River has facilitated trade and commerce for more than 400 years. A symbol of prosperity it has epitomized the commercial spirit that became a signifying characteristic of the United States by the early nineteenth century.

Tourism and Cultural Symbol:  The scenic delights of the Hudson River valley, including 19^th century landscapes by Hudson River School artists, have offered visual and cultural commodities to tourists who have traveled the river into upstate New York from the late eighteenth century to the present. Eco-tourism, cultural attractions, outdoor sports, contemporary art and a nostalgic quest for simplicity and communion with nature still entice tourists into the Hudson River valley today.

Recreation, Sport, and Leisure: The waters of the Hudson River have offered all spectrums of society the opportunity for pleasure, physical exercise, and competitive challenges for more than 400 years.

The River and the Natural Environment: Naturalists, scientists, and industrialists have long been drawn to the Hudson River valley for its abundant and unusual botanical, ecological, and environmental treasures. Today, scientists, lawmakers, and an educated public respect the Hudson River and celebrate its natural abundance.

Nostalgia and the River: The 2009 Celebration reflects the 1909 Hudson-Fulton commemoration. The 1909 celebration included pomp, pageantry, and innovative technologies related to the history of the United States.

The Hudson River Valley Today: The Hudson River of the 21^st century unites a region of technological innovation, development, and research. Tech Valley, as the Hudson River Valley is frequently called, has received national and international attention for the explosion of technology-based industries all along the length of the river, from New York to Albany. This last section of the exhibit will unveil the revolutionary new world that is developing throughout the Hudson River Valley and which is defining the new character of American ingenuity.

Late Afternoon, Olana

Marjorie Portnow (b. 1942)

1986

Oil on canvas, ht. 7 in., w. 11 in.

Albany Institute of History & Art

Gift of Georgina D. Williams

1996.10.2

Hudson River Landing

Alburtis Del Orient Browere (1814-1887)

ca. 1840

Oil on wood panel, ht. 28 ¼ in., w. 45 5/8 in., framed, ht. 34 7/8 in., w. 51 1/8 in.

Albany Institute of History & Art

Gift of J. Townsend Lansing

x1940.590.80

View of the Hudson North of Catskill

Richard Callner (b. 1924)

1987

Watercolor on paper

Albany Institute of History & Art Purchase

1998.15