Clearwater: Hudson River Rising . Timeline



1524	Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano enters New York Harbor.

1609	Henry Hudson, an English explorer hired by the Dutch East India Company, explores the river as far north as Albany.
1624	Dutch colonists arrive in New York Harbor. Roll over here for more info. 1624 New York Harbor is the phrase used to designate all of the rivers and bays in and around New York City.
1627	The Dutch in New York open trade with the settlers in Plymouth Colony. Roll over here for more info. 1627 English colonists established Plymoth Colony in 1620. It was located in southeastern Massachusetts.
1640	Ferry service between Manhattan and Brooklyn is established.	Back to the Top

1700s	Throughout the 1700s, trade between New York and the West Indies soars.
1777	The Revolutionary War's Battle of Saratoga is fought along the Hudson River. Roll over here for more info. 1777 The Battle of Saratoga was instrumental to the colonists' victory in the American Revolution. Nine Thousand British troops surrendered and France entered the war on behalf of the Americans.
1783	The Hudson River whaling fleet is established.
1783	The New York ship Empress of China sails to and opens trade with China.
1796	The Jay Treaty is signed; British and American maritime trade can recommence. Roll over here for more info. 1796 The Jay Treaty was signed by Great Britain and the U.S. It resolved issues after the Revolutionary War and led to years of peaceful trade between the countries.	Back to the Top

1800s	Hudson River School of artists produces works inspired by artist Thomas Cole. Roll over here for more info. 1800
1807	Robert Fulton travels by steamboat from New York to Albany. Fulton establishes regular steamboat service on the Hudson.
1815	The end of the War of 1812 sees the rise of maritime trade and travel by steam engine.
1820	Washington Irving's famous ghost story, THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, is published. The story takes place in Tarrytown, NY, in the Hudson River Valley. Roll over here for more info. 1820 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a short story about a headless horseman who haunts a quiet Hudson River village. Several film adaptations have been produced.
1825	The Erie Canal is completed and opened to traffic. Roll over here for more info. 1825
1840	New York maritime trade thrives as New York ships represent 20% of all registered tonnage in the United States.
1851	The entire Hudson River Railroad line is open for business.
1863	The Hudson River Day Line, a famous steamboat company, is launched. Roll over here for more info. 1863 The Hudson River Day Line was the most popular steamboat company that sailed the Hudson.	Back to the Top

1909	The Hudson Tricentennial celebrates the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's sail up the River.
1923	First section of the Appalachian Trail opens, extending from Bear Mountain to the Delaware Water Gap. Roll over here for more info. 1923 The Appalachian Trail is 2,175 miles long, spans 250,000 acres, and extends through 14 states.
1924	Bear Moutain Bridge opens. It is built on the spot where the Americans had used an iron chain to stop the British fleet.
1948	The Hudson River Day Line files for bankruptcy.
1964	Cornell Steamboat Company, the largest business of its kind in the entire United States, files for bankruptcy.
1969	The Clearwater sloop launches from Maine and sails the Hudson River, raising awareness about the River's preservation.
1973	The Fort Edward Dam is removed from the upper river; PCBs are exposed and travel to the lower river. Roll over here for more info. 1973 PCBs are organic compounds that have several commercial uses. However, they are highly toxic and not easily degradable.
1976	Congress passes the Toxic Substances Control Act which states that PCBs can only be used in enclosed areas.
1976	A flood causes the movement of toxic sediments in the River.
1976	Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA bans the discharge of PCBs into navigable waters. Roll over here for more info. 1984 The Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1970. It is responsible for ensuring that federal environmental laws are obeyed.
1980	The Hudson River Maritime Museum is founded.
1984	The EPA finds GE responsible for the toxic levels of PCBs in the River.
1990	The EPA and GE agree that GE will pay ten million dollars to help repair the damages caused by PCBs in the River.
1993	G.E. establishes a seven million dollar fund to compensate fishermen who lost income due to water contamination.
1996	Congress designates the Hudson River Valley a National Heritage Area. Roll over here for more info. 1996 Thirty-seven sites have been designated National Heritage Areas since the program's inception in 1984.	Back to the Top

2006	Thirteen staff and educators from New York and New Jersey sail on the Clearwater sloop.	Back to the Top

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1923

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1996