November, 2000 issue

Henry Hudson, an Englishman, is credited as being the first European to sail up the river which now bears his name. In 1609 he was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company to find a shorter trade route to the Indies as the journey around the Cape of Good Hope was dangerous, lengthy and expensive. He captained the 80-ton Half Moon on its historic voyage up the river as far as where Albany stands today.

Later the area became a fort and trading post for early Dutch settlers.

"Albany's southern waterfront presents a rich opportunity to link the past and the future," the Governor said. "Albany's Dutch heritage and the Half Moon will once again be a part of Albany's waterfront for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy."

City of Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings said, "Historic recreations are some of the most successful revitalization tools a city can have. With Albany's waterfront and history, a recreation of the City's early Dutch settlements has tremendous potential to attract visitors year round. The steady stream of visitors that the Half Moon receives every time it comes to Albany is testimony to history's ability to bring people to the riverfront."

The feasibility study and master plan will include a detailed analysis of existing conditions in the 100 acres that comprise the city's southern waterfront, a market analysis of the attractions that could be developed, the transportation needs of a redeveloped waterfront, the opportunities for restoring natural resources at the water edge, and the public access that will be provided.

Along the city's waterfront between the Port of Albany and the downtown are the sites of some of the earliest development in the city's history beginning with the very earliest settlement, Fort Orange.

New Netherland Museum board member and Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson, Robert W. Elliott, explained a home port for the Half Moon was part of a larger vision. "The Clearwater is undoubtedly the environmental flagship of the river," he said, "but the Half Moon is the flagship of our Hudson Valley Heritage."

He continued, "When we were putting together the Hudson River Greenway we planned docks in every community so that not only the Half Moon and Clearwater could visit with interpreters, but ferries could transport commuters and tourists."

Chip Reynolds, Captain of the Half Moon, noted, "Even if our plans develop rapidly it will be several years in completion. Further, we will remain in operation and will continue to visit King Marine (in Verplanck) and other ports for the long haul. For the foreseeable future, we will keep King Marine as our base of operations."

Governor Pataki also announced the establishment of the "Governor's Half Moon Voyage of Discovery" program to allow middle school aged students to learn first-hand about the ecology, history, culture, and economy of the great Hudson River by re-tracing the path of Henry Hudson's 1609 voyage.

The program will consist of a Spring 2001 six-day voyage on the Half Moon with two six student teams from New York State middle school classes. The two teams will be chosen by a committee of educators, environmentalists, community leaders, State agency representatives, and Half Moon captain, Chip Reynolds.

The modern replica of the Half Moon was built in Albany in 1989 by the New Netherland Museum, and operates as a sailing museum of early Dutch culture. Using traditional methods, students selected for the program will function as full crew members of the vessel, learning to handle, sail, steer and navigate the ship. In addition, students will pursue an academic program combining science and history education in a hands on environment.

Along the way students will maintain a log both of their personal reflections and of their academic projects. This information will be communicated to classrooms over the internet, allowing schools to monitor the progress of the voyage and permitting students in the classroom to participate in a virtual voyage.