Topic starter
12/10/2006 12:30 am
Steamships returning to the Hudson River!
Updated Link: PRB-5 Sept 09
The S.S. Columbia Project Mission Statement
The Columbia Project is working towards restoring, operating, and interpreting the historic steamship S.S. Columbia on a non-profit basis. As a floating mobile museum the ship will revitalize communities of the Hudson Valley through responsible tourism while reviving the region’s 200 year old steamboating tradition. The restored Columbia will carry students and tourists up the Hudson River on day trips allowing them to enjoy the cultural, and environmental resources of the Hudson Valley. Educational programming, increases in visitor spending, and a heightened awareness of the Rivcrscape as a sustainable economic resource that must be protected, will directly benefit NYC and all the communities of the Hudson Valley.
The Project has the following specific objectives:
Preservation: To restore, operate, and interpret the National Historic Landmark steam vessel SS Columbia.
Education: To create educational programming for students, local residents, and tourists that will elaborate on the rich cultural, environmental, and economic heritage of the Hudson Valley and its waterfront communities.
Economic Development / Waterfront Revitalization: To promote sustainable growth and job development through responsible heritage and environmental tourism.
The Environment: To raise awareness of the natural landscape and environment of the Hudson Valley: its mountains, rivers, wildlife, and wetlands.
31/08/2009 10:38 pm
I met with the current president, Richard Anderson, of this project not too long ago. What an endeavor, and a true masterpiece of steam power in American history, although she isn't a paddle-wheeler she ranks above an beyond with her age and beauty I'd have to say.
The website listed above is a dead link now, the current address is SS Columbia Project
There's a connecting link on the webpage for flicker, that has numerous pictures of her in restoration. A piece of history like this can be just as important if not more as saving any mississippi steamboat, so make sure to give some encouragement if you are ever in the area.
01/09/2009 12:35 am
No turf wars on this board, please!
[QUOTE=Mathew Stage; A piece of history like this can be just as important if not more as saving any mississippi steamboat, so make sure to give some encouragement if you are ever in the area.
Let's just say saving ANY piece of history is important, and not try to rank importance according to home areas and preferences.
01/09/2009 1:20 am
Judy Patsch;18241 wrote: Let's just say saving ANY piece of history is important, and not try to rank importance according to home areas and preferences.
Judy I didn't mean it like that, I live over 400 miles away from the City, I would be closer to the Ohio an Mississippi rivers!
Topic starter
05/09/2009 12:40 pm
All of steamboating is of interest
Judy Patsch;18241 wrote: Let's just say saving ANY piece of history is important, and not try to rank importance according to home areas and preferences.
My focus is on the Hudson River Valley as that's where I live. I didn't take Mathew's comment as pitting one area against the other as much as he was trying to inform "steamboats" that there are other worthwhile project in the works. The S.S. Columbia being but one of them.
As a side note. I sometimes get the impression that folks forget about the Northeast. the North River/Hudson River and it's importance to the Steamboat World. I would like to see more discussions on Morey, Rumsey, Fitch, Stevens and Fulton all who contributed to the American Steamboat development.
05/09/2009 4:55 pm
It is absolutely astounding that such a project is being successfully undertaken at the same time that historic Western River steamboats are being laid up, cut up, or just left to rot, in other words a very uncertain future. And not only are they restoring it, but making it operational!!!! If you haven't gone to the above web site, do so in order to see how they are doing it, where the money is coming from, etc. It is a very well put together display. And scroll down to the second slide show and stop it on the picture of the port holes and the table with a cat and a flower arrangement on it. A simple photo that says it all for us boat nuts. Kudos to those involved.