A Historic Birthday Bash

The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse is celebrating its 150th birthday on Saturday, June 1. For this landmark’s anniversary, the Hudson Athens Preservation Society is hosting a Boat Parade, featuring various esteemed Hudson RiverYacht clubs and will be led by the US Coast Guard and Naval Militia. Featured will be historic sailboats such as The Eleanor and Schooner Apollonia.

Starting at 12 pm, the spectacular boat parade will take off along the Hudson River. Setting sail from Athens, New York the parade will sail down to Catskill past the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, before returning upstream to Hudson, circling the lighthouse along the way.

To view the parade, a celebration will be happening in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. There will be food, music, and a day full of celebrations! The event is open to adults and kids of all ages, with free admission to the park.

History of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse

way to move goods and people back and forth to the Great Lakes. When conditions worsened in the late 1860s and much petitioning to Congress, the Hudson City Lighthouse, as it was originally known, was approved to be built in 1872.

The Lighthouse was completed and put into operation in November 1874. It was a completed manned facility until the 1950s when it was automated and a live-in keeper was no longer necessary.

Commission to explore possible uses for the Hudson River Lighthouses. In 1979, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and was finally named the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse to end the two-county controversy.

In 1982, a group of citizens from Columbia and Greene Counties formed the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Committee (HALPS) which inherited the now detoriorating structure. Through time and devotion, the lighthouse was restored close to its former beauty. HALPS continues to care for the lighthouse, welcoming visitors, sharing its tales, and raising funds to ensure the light shines forever.

Today the lighthouse still serves as a beacon to ships on the Hudson River and is the last lighthouse on the north end of the river, in fact, only 7 remain. The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse boat parade is to ensure landmarks like this continue to be celebrated!

Take Amtrak to the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Boat Parade

Experience this fantastic boat parade via Amtrak to Hudson Station in Hudson, New York—Don’t forget to use Amtrak See New York and Save 15% discount!