Plans Unveiled for Hudson Riverama -- by the Half Moon Press

November 2000 issue

Plans Unveiled for Hudson Riverama The Hudson River Museum recently unveiled plans for Hudson Riverama, a unique interactive environmental exhibition providing a comprehensive look at plant and animal life in and along the Hudson River, from the Adirondacks to New York Harbor.

When completed, the permanent exhibit will be the first of its kind in New York State and serve as a resource center for information about the Hudson River and its habitats.

The $1.25 million project will include an installation of six distinct Hudson River habitats, a Hudson River Lab and Resource Area, and an expansive window along the west side of the museum, offering breathtaking views of the Hudson River and Palisades.

Scheduled to open in July 2001, Hudson Riverama is being funded by a $500,000 state grant from the National Science Foundation and $350,000 in grants from New York State. The project is also receiving additional support from Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., in Elmsford, and the Meryl and Christopher Lewis Foundation in Hastings-on-Hudson.

"This is an exciting time for us as we embark on a major initiative that we hope will make the Hudson River Museum one of the foremost resource centers for the Hudson River," said Cathy Shiga-Gattullo, Education Director of the museum.

Construction is slated to begin in February 2001, and the Planetarium will be closed for approximately two weeks during the initial building renovation phase. Other public programs will be offered during the hiatus.

Hudson Riverama will be located on the main exhibition floor of the museum and will be comprised of three components which will include large-scale environments, aquatic tanks with live animals, realistic plant and animal models and interactive computer and video stations. Changing activities will call attention to current issues along the Hudson River.

The Artifact Orientation section will serve as the starting point for Hudson Riverama and will feature a large scale model of the Hudson River, with flowing water.

The Journey section will be built around the outside of the Planetarium, and will allow visitors to travel the full length of the river visiting various habitats.

The Hudson River Lab and Resource Area will complete the exhibit. Two open wells, which now exist in the lower gallery, will be filled in to offer a large lab station with live Hudson River specimens. It will be staffed by volunteers doing demonstrations, assisting families with experiments and answering questions.

Hudson Riverama is being designed by Roundtable Design of Tarrytown, and will be built by Guest Exhibit Production of Brooklyn. The design process has included input from a 23-member advisory board and well-known local organizations such as Clearwater, Scenic Hudson, and the Westchester County Department of Planning.

The Hudson River Museum has been approved for participation in New York State's Economic Development Zone Tax Credit Program. Any monetary contributions over $500 to Hudson Riverama qualify donors for a 25 percent tax credit against personal or corporate New York State Income Tax.

The Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, is open October through April, Wednesday through Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.