Replica of Henry Hudson’s “Half-Moon” Sails into Westchester on October 16th

Students from the Masters School Help Kick-Off Celebrations of  the
400th Anniversary of Hudson’s Discovery of the River  

(September 5, 2008; White Plains, NY)- On Thursday, October 16th, a plank-for-plank replica of discoverer Henry Hudson’s “Half-Moon” will arrive at the Yonkers City Pier at 2:30 pm. The ship’s crew will include 12 seventh graders from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry. The event is planned as a preview of New York State’s upcoming Hudson-Fulton-Champlain-Quadricentennial celebration in 2009.

“The Half-Moon trip is an integral part of The Masters School’s experience-based learning program, which uses metropolitan area cultural and historic resources to supplement the rigorous college preparatory curriculum of its 579 coed day and boarding students in grades five through twelve. Students in the Middle School spend one year studying an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on all aspects of the Hudson River” says Maureen Fonseca, Head of the Masters School.

Meeting the ship will be County Executive Andy Spano, along with Yonkers Mayor Philip Amicone, fellow students, teachers, Public Officials, Hudson River Museum Junior Docents, and representatives of several local Towns and Villages.

Locally, Westchester County Government will play a key role in the Quadricentennial festivities, coordinating all the local events so that our residents as well as tourists can participate. “You can’t speak about the history of Westchester County, or its future for that matter, without considering the centrality of the Hudson River,” says Westchester County Executive Andy Spano. “That’s why Riverwalk, the pathway we are creating along the Hudson from Yonkers to Peekskill, is so important. It will give people the opportunity to see and feel the majesty of the River and at the same time visit the communities that have grown up along side it. The Half Moon’s arrival on October 16th is a fitting prelude to the many wonderful festivities that are being planned for 2009.”  

Presentation of the Half-Moon’s educational and public programs in October is a collaboration between (listed alphabetically) the City of Yonkers, the Hudson River Museum, The Masters School, the Westchester Arts Council, the Westchester County Office of Tourism, and the Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District (BID). This experience-based learning program, exemplifies the Masters School's hands-on learning approach, which includes visits and study of metropolitan area cultural and historic resources.  

For two weeks, the Half-Moon will remain at the Pier in Yonkers as students from schools throughout Westchester take part in educational programs on the boat. Each school group of about forty-five students will tour the ship and learn about early 17th century America. Later, during the weekends of October 18th and October 25th, the ship will be open for public tours.

Mayor Amicone touts the Hudson River as a beacon for economic development. “It is a tremendous asset for Yonkers to be situated on the banks of the Hudson River,” says Amicone. “In recent years, our city has worked to make the most of this asset. Our city planning and economic development efforts have been guided by the belief that the natural beauty of the River would be a magnet for people looking for places to live and enjoy recreational opportunities. The Quadricentennial celebrations will be another way for all of us to recognize the value of this precious resource.”

Hudson River Museum Executive Director Michael Botwinick says “With our Educational Programs this year, the visit of the Half-Moon, and our major exhibition on Dutch New York in 2009, we hope to make the world of early Dutch settlers more familiar to students.”       

“Having the Half-Moon here is an inspiration,” adds Westchester Arts Council Executive Director Janet T. Langsam. ‘Through the Westchester Arts Council’s education programs, we hope to have as many Westchester students from around the county experience a day on the Half-Moon.”

The Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District (BID) will be hosting the Half Moon at Yonkers City Pier.“The Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District is very proud to be the host site for the Half Moon ship to kick off the Quadricentennial Celebration,” says Steve Sansone, the BID’s Executive Director. We plan on marking this historic moment by presenting several festive and free events to be enjoyed by residents and visitors to the Yonkers Downtown Waterfront over the two special Half Moon weekends in October.”

Sailing for the Dutch East India Company, the original Half-Moon was the first European ship to document exploration of the navigable limits of the now named ‘Hudson’ River. The Half-Moon replica  is a ‘floating museum and classroom’ operated by the New Netherland Museum, a non-profit organization which provides educational programs about sailing, navigation, ecology, astronomy, 17th century New Netherlands history and other related topics.

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The replica of Henry Hudson's ship, the Half Moon, will be in Yonkers from
October 16th through October 30th and will be the centerpiece of a
number of Yonkers downtown events:
.
Saturday, October 18th: Half Moon Children's Events
Sunday, October 19th: Half Moon Visual Arts Day / Evolution Arts / All Fired Up!

The Half Moon on the Yonkers Waterfront

Half Moon Children's Entertainment on the Yonkers Waterfront

Half Moon Children's Entertainment on the Yonkers Waterfront
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Saturday, October 25th: Half Moon Performing Arts Day
Sunday, October 25th: Half Moon Harvest Fest

October 18-19 & 25-26: Yonkers Public Tours. The Half Moon will open for public tours on Saturdays and Sundays in Yonkers, NY. Hours are 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children above the age of twelve, and free for children twelve and younger. Area volunteers are invited to join us as docents.

October 20-24 & 27-31: Yonkers School Tours. From Monday through Friday, the Half Moon will be available for tours to pre-scheduled school groups from throughout New York City and Westchester County. Experienced docents are invited to contact us to help guide these tours.

More about the Half Moon...

Some information about the Half Moon and its history:

The Half Moon is an 85-foot replica of the ship Henry Hudson sailed while exploring the Hudson River in 1609.  It will be here in Yonkers from October 16th-October 30th.

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.

The ship's voyage to Yonkers has been underwritten by Peckham Industries.  While here in Yonkers, the boat will be conducting guided tours to 4th grade students from the Yonkers Public Schools, as well as other Westchster County School Districts.  The Mayor's Office, Parks Department, Downtown BID, Hudson River Museum & the Westchester Arts Council will be coordinating programs and special events on the weekends to attract people to the downtown and to tour the ship.

More about the Half Moon...