Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909

By Edward F. Levine and Roger Panetta

The Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 honored the tercentennial of Henry Hudson s great find for the Dutch and the centennial of Robert Fulton s steamboat. These events anchored settlements along the Hudson River valley and helped to define this famous region. The celebration, which coincided with the heyday of the penny postcard, was a multi-week, cross-state parade and party. Among its many vintage images, Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 features unique postcards from the magnificent event by blockbuster artist Bernhardt Wall, renowned publisher Raphael Tuck, and an official souvenir series from the Redfield Brothers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Feb 2, 2009
• ISBN: 9781439621608

Edward F. Levine

Edward F. Levine began collecting vintage postcards 40 years ago. Specializing in exposition cards, he has assembled one of the largest groupings of Hudson-Fulton Celebration postcards. Roger Panetta is a visiting professor of history at Fordham University, curator of Fordham University Libraries� Hudson River Collection, and an adjunct curator for history at the Hudson River Museum. His publications have focused on the history and culture of the Hudson River valley, and he appeared in Bill Moyer�s 1999 television documentary, America�s First River.

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INTRODUCTION

The dawn of the 19th century was an age of discovery and exploration. Popular expositions and fairs worldwide looked back at history and celebrated the day. Futuristic innovations were unveiled from the dramatic Eiffel Tower at the Universal Exhibition in 1889 to the ice-cream cone at the St. Louis world’s fair in 1904.

Starting on September 25, 1909, a 15-day Hudson-Fulton Celebration took place throughout the state of New York. This international showcase commemorated the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery and the 100th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s innovative demonstration of steam-powered navigation.

These historical events anchored settlements along the Hudson River valley that have become the envy of the world. This rich land is a significant center of population and has witnessed many of the western hemisphere’s pivotal events.

Looking back, this event celebrated two pivotal events from New York’s history. Henry Hudson discovered New York on September 2, 1609. The English captain of the Dutch ship Half Moon dropped anchor in what is now New York Harbor. Hudson was working for the Dutch East India Company to find a sea route to the Far East through North America. He attempted sailing up the narrowing river that now bears his name. His discovery introduced Europeans to more northern, closer lands within America. A Dutch colony followed in just five years.

An inventor and artist, Robert Fulton (1765–1815) is best known for launching the first commercially successful steamboat. Fulton developed the first steam-powered vessel to travel the Hudson River. Its name was the North River Steamboat of Clermont, which was later shortened to Clermont. On August 9 and 10, 1807, taking just 30 hours, the Clermont travelled from New York City to Albany, far faster than a normal sailing ship. His invention furthered the area’s ability to become the world’s commercial centerpiece. The following year a canal was proposed to link Lake Erie to the Hudson River.

Clearly too, this celebration looked forward. According to the official program printed by Redfield Brothers for the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission, a prize of $10,000 [was] offered by the New York World for the aeronaut who, in a mechanically propelled airship, sails over the course from New York to Albany traversed by Fulton’s first steamboat. This early Pulitzer prize was not awarded, but Wilbur Wright demonstrated spectacular flights to a million viewers from Governor’s Island, over the Hudson, and around the Statue of