The Hudson: Art, Industry, and Ecology

Welcome to Hudson Rising. This virtual replica of New-York Historical Society's 2019 exhibit uncovers 200 years of Hudson River history and the region's starring role in environmentalism.

Although the predominant perception of early African Americans in the United States tends to conjure up images of a shackled existence on Southern plantations, the story of the African American presence in Hudson Valley history remains comparatively untold. Just as countless black hands worked the red clay fields of Southern farms, so too did African slaves churn the rich, fertile soils of the New York flats. It remains a hypocrisy in our condemnation of slavery in the South, that we too built our society on the backs of a subjugated people. While New York played a major role in the trading of coffee, sugar, and tobacco, our state also played a crucial role in the trafficking of human life.

Native New York journeys through city and state to explore the question “What makes New York a Native place?” The exhibition encompasses 12 places in present-day New York, introducing visitors to the Native nations that call the region home. Stretching from Long Island through New York City and on toward Niagara Falls, it covers pre–Revolutionary War exchanges through contemporary events. From Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) ironworkers who helped build Manhattan’s iconic skyscrapers to Lenape (Delaware) teens visiting their ancestral home, stories of Native New Yorkers provide an expanded understanding of the region’s history and reveal that New York is—and always has been—a Native place.

The purpose of the Hudson River Foundation is to make science integral to decision-making with regard to the Hudson River, its estuary and its watershed, and to support competent stewardship of this extraordinary resource.

The Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s mission is to unite and empower communities to protect our shared waters. We work across the Hudson River watershed to support watershed groups, help communities work together on water issues, and communicate as a collective voice.

Part of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), the Hudson River Field Station is a community hub for scientific research and environmental education. Their mission is to provide place-based learning opportunities of the Hudson River estuary through field investigations, allowing participants to explore and learn from the natural world.

Founded in 1966 as the Hudson River Fishermen's Association, Riverkeeper continues its fight against polluters in the Hudson River Valley.

The Hudson River Valley has generations of environmental and cultural history. Many stewards have dedicated their lives to protecting and studying the Hudson River, but their stories remain untold. This interactive map and site will supplement a physical installation of the stewards of the Hudson River at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Hudson River Field Station .