Replica of the Half Moon Drops Anchor in Verplanck

The ship, which has a volunteer crew of 15, was built in Albany, N.Y. in 1989 to commemorate the Dutch role in exploring and colonizing America.

The original ship, called the Halve Maen, was commissioned on March 25, 1609 for the Dutch East India Company. The company hired Hudson, an Englishman, to search for a passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He thought he had found that passageway when he sailed up the river that was later named for him.

In making his trip up the river, Hudson claimed the area for the Dutch and opened the land for settlers who followed. His voyage came 10 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

Plans are being developed to make the Half Moon the first exhibit of the proposed New Netherlands Museum, which would tell the story of Dutch colonization of North America and the founding of the states of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

The Half Moon replica has six sails on three masts, sporting 2,757 square feet of canvas. It's equipped with six cannons and four anchors. The ship is open to visitors at King Marine in Verplanck during selected weekends. It's also available for chartering. For more information, call 518-443-1609 or 914-413-9924. The mailing address is P.O. Box 10609, Albany, NY 12201-5609.