Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture

February 7, 2009–January 2, 2011

The majestic power and rich history of the Hudson River continues to flow through the Albany Institute of History & Art with “Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture.” This historic exhibition commemorates Henry Hudson’s 1609 exploration of the river that bears his name, and the remarkable narrative of the people, events, and ideas that have shaped this magnificent region.

Featuring hundreds of artifacts, works of art, interactive displays, and rare archival documents from the Albany Institute’s renowned collections, “Hudson River Panorama” encompasses five major themes relating to the many agricultural, industrial, and cultural influences of this historic waterway:

Community and Settlement
Natural History and Environment
Transportation
Trade, Commerce, and Industry
Culture and Symbol

Complementing the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain quadricentennial—an international celebration stretching from New York City to Québec Province—“Hudson River Panorama” explores and narrates the influential force that the Hudson has had on our region, including settlement, agricultural cultivation, industrial growth, tourism, and the cultural prominence of the region's talented and creative artists, writers, architects, and landscape gardeners.

For more than three years, the Albany Institute researched topics related to the Hudson River in preparation for the exhibition and accompanying educational programs. The process was a journey of exploration and discovery, unearthing accounts of the people and events that have shaped the history of the Hudson Valley. With a topic as vast and wide-ranging as the Hudson River, selecting key events, people, innovations, and ideas to relate broader narratives of the river has been both crucial and challenging.

Exhibition Support

Support for this exhibition has been provided by:

Leadership Support

Equinox Foundation

Major Project Support

William Randolph Hearst Foundation; Institute of Museum and Library Services; New York State Council on the Arts Digitization Initiative; New York Council for the Humanities; MetLife Foundation; Future 400 Society of the Albany Institute; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation/Hudson River Estuary Fund; Bank of America Foundation; Bender Family Foundation, Mr. Matthew Bender IV, Phoebe Powell Bender; Buchman Foundation; Teaching the Hudson Valley; Assemblyman Robert Reilly Salary Fund

Additional Support

CSEA; The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center; Trudeau Architects; The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area/Greenway and the National Park Service; in memory of Helen O. Meacham Stephens; Hudson River Foundation; The Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission; Edgar W. and June B. Martin Fund; Albany Parking Authority; 74 State; Lucille A. Herold Charitable Trust; Richard and Karen Nicholson; Joseph P. and Joan P. Richardson; John and Marney Mesch; Mr. Felton McLaughlin; Christine M. Miles and John J. Kelliher; Mr. and Mrs. John T. Battin; Mr. and Mrs. James A. Clark; Mrs. Jocelyn R. Jerry; Mr. and Mrs. James Tusty; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Golden; Hampton Inn & Suites–Albany Downtown

Corporate Currents of Change

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna; architecture +; Austin & Co., Inc.; Caryn Zeh Appraisals, LLC

Voyager
John T. Battin
Rhea and Jim Clark
Jocelyn R. Jerry
Bill and Kate McLaughlin
John and Marney Mesch
John J. and Christine Miles Kelliher
James and Maureen Tusty

Explorer
Charles and Charlotte Buchanan
Mr. and Mrs. Michael K. Burke
John DeCelle
John K. Desmond, Jr.
John R. Dunne
Tim and Helen Harris
Susan M. Haswell
Fred and Donna Hershey
Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill
Barbara and Chuck Manning
Magda and Gus Mininberg
Mr. and Mrs. William B. Picotte
Susan Siegal

Adventurer
Dr. and Mrs. John W. Abbuhl
In Memory of Melvyn L. Behn
Carol Bullard and Worth Gretter
Bonnie and Paul V. Bruno
Prentiss and Freida Carnell
Lawrence W. Chakrin, Ph.D.
Donna Crisafulli and Robert Kuhnmunch
Mrs. Edward J. Crummey
Rodger and Karlene Cusick
Kimmey C. Decker
Barbey and Ned Dougherty
Jennifer A. Drautz
Tom and Lisa Evans
Anonymous
John and Barbara Flynn
Neil and Jane Golub
Jane Graham
Arthur D. Hengerer and Jane S. Hengerer
Beatrice Herman
Helen Phelan Howe
Ted Jennings
Frances and Robert Kamp
Teresa A. Kennedy
Ruth and Don Killoran
James Kraft
Mary and Robert Lafleur
Keith C. Lee
Harry and Frances McDonald
Judith McIllduff
Leland Miles
Stephen and Mary Muller
William J. Nathan
Donna Nowak-Hughes and Paul Hughes
Lauren Payne and Robert Clancy
Robert and Claire Ruslander
Andrea Schulz
Francis and Cynthia Serbent
E.R. Silverberg
Norbert L. Stegemann
Anonymous
Jeff and Jeannie Straussman
Robert P. Storch and Sara M. Lord
William and Stevi Swire
William A. Thomas
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Ungerer
In Memory of Eilliot J. Wachs
Thomas Whalen