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HUDSON-FULTON-CHAMPLAIN QUADRICENTENNIAL 2009: CELEBRATING 400 YEARS OF NEW YORK HISTORY

» www.exploreNY400.com

New York's 400th anniversary, a year-long commemoration officially called the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, opened January 1. Chaired by preservationist, social activist and New York City and Hudson Valley resident, Joan K. Davidson, "the Quad" celebrates the long history and the enormous potential of the state's premier waterways, the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. In addition to a four-season calendar of special events and programs taking place throughout the state, the Quadricentennial's 21 member Commission oversees several Hudson River legacy projects. Notable among them are the Walkway Over the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, the restoration of the historic Crown Point Lighthouse, the installation of public docks in many New York riverfront communities, and Heritage Weekend. Legacy projects will link New York's historic past and its vibrant present while positioning the villages, towns and cities along the state’s waterways for economically viable futures.

The Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial focuses on the anniversaries of three internationally significant events in the history of New York's waterways: The 1609 discovery of the Hudson River which led to the development of New York as the greatest city in the world and opened the American continent to exploration; Samuel de Champlain's 1609 exploration of upper New York State and the discovery of the lake that bears his name; and Robert Fulton's 1809 journey from New York to Albany aboard 'The Clermont' which established steam commerce on the Hudson River.

Speaking about the significance and great potential of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial for the future of New York State, Chairman Joan Davidson said, "New York City is a water city and New York State is a water state, unique in all the United States. We need to protect and enhance these extraordinary water resources and use them for the benefit of all New Yorkers. The Quad gives us the opportunity to discover the varied riches, understand the fascinating history – and also creatively consider the future --of the Empire State."

From county fairs to kayak regattas to music performances on mountaintops, 400th anniversary celebrations are taking place in communities along the Hudson River, Lake Champlain and in and around New York's spectacular harbor and on several of its other waterways. The Quadricentennial website - www.exploreny400.com - features a list of events not to be missed!

The Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial was set in motion by New York Governor George Pataki in 2001 and supported by his successor, Eliot Spitzer. In 2008, Governor David Paterson named First Lady, Michelle Paige Paterson, as the Quadricentennial's honorary chair. Support for 'the Quad' - and the great opportunities it presents for New York's tourism industry - has come from legislators and from business, civic, preservation, and cultural organizations throughout the Northeast. Mindful of New York's 17th century origins as New Netherland, the Quadricentennial Commission is working closely with the Dutch government through its consulate in New York City.