Throughout Greater New York City between September 25 and October 9, 1909, an event was held to commemorate the anniversaries of major milestones reached by two distinguished men in history: Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton. In 1609, Hudson discovered the river that now bears his name, as well as the island now known as Manhattan, while Fulton made the first steamboat trip to Albany up the Hudson River in 1807, changing navigation for all who followed him. These men, whose innovation and intellect shaped the city and its surrounding areas, were honored in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909. This Celebration placed the spotlight on New York City and used illuminations, parades, and exhibits to inform audiences about the still-developing metropolis. Among the other events planned for the Celebration were the dedications of a number of statues, memorials and plaques honoring various historical sites and occasions. These monuments, scattered across the metropolis, were meant to serve as a lasting physical reminder of the rich history embedded in New York City, and they were erected with an underlying didactic purpose in mind.

Generally, the function of any memorial is to permanently commemorate a notable person, event or idea in a public space. Monuments also provide a framework of meaning for a community, under which the exchange of traditions and beliefs can occur.^[1] They often incorporate some form of art into their form, whether it is sculpture, painting, or graphic design, and may be embellished with details as well. Memorials are usually planned to reflect or embody an idea that reaches across multiple generations, thus making the memorial itself timeless and able to speak to all who view it. Memorials act as a material memory to remind the present and the future of the past. ^[2] The monuments dedicated in 1909 adhere to these ideals. They sought to give a small history lesson to their audience using sculpture and inscription, and also created a lasting physical remnant to be placed within the fabric of the city.

The logic behind building the memorials of 1909 was to create a visual representation of history for all to understand – even those who could not speak English or read. This came at a time when many new citizens of New York were immigrants and, subsequently, when a renewed interest in public sculpture among the city’s elite emerged.^[3] The Celebration in 1909 reinforced the idea of creating historical imagery by commissioning numerous monuments of subjects related to New York’s history. The Commission “sought to accomplish something higher, something more lasting than simply to make a populace stare in open-eyed wonder. It saw a means…to furnish New Yorkers, by means of visual instruction, with a great object lesson in the history and development of their city.”^[4] For existing residents, new immigrants and tourists alike, the Commissioners of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration worked to inform audiences of New York’s past and to generate an interest in the city’s future.

The artists who designed the monuments and sculptures of 1909 also strived to represent civic ideals of beauty, harmony, unity, and culture in their work as part of a wider concern for the welfare of the city.^[5] These ideals emerged as a response to the deteriorationeb.fordham.edu/fckeditor/editor/fckeditor.html?Instance that many cities were experiencing at this time due to industrialization and urban development. Contemporary to the Celebration, the City Beautiful movement was also rapidly developing as a response to the tremendous growth of cities throughout America at the turn of the twentieth century. It was a proactive attempt to prevent city-wide disarray by means of organized civic planning and design.^[6] Fundamental parts of the City Beautiful included “wide, tree-lined boulevards with uniform-corniced buildings, grand vistas, and a park system,” while “^[m]onuments and architectural sculpture should form integral parts of such arrangements.”^[7] The monuments dedicated during the Celebration of 1909 were an extension of this overarching plan in that they “familiarized people with the best and most fundamental values of past and present culture.”^[8] While the aesthetic power of these memorials was implicit, the focal point of their function was the educational value they held for the public. Thus, through the artistic representation of historical figures and events, a link between the history and culture of New York City was made.

A description of each monument or memorial, as well as details of the dedication as it took place in 1909, follows. They are listed in chronological order according to when they actually occurred during the Celebration.

Palisades Interstate Park: The Palisades Interstate Park was dedicated on September 27, 1909, beginning at 11:00 in the morning. The Park stretches for thirteen miles along the Hudson’s western shore in New Jersey, extending from Fort Lee, New Jersey to Piermont, New York.^{[9] [10]} The ceremonies were held at Alpine Park, New Jersey, supported by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission.^[11] In addition to functioning as a public park, the Palisades were also meant to stand as a memorial to the Hudson’s River’s discovery and successive history. Within the park are numerous historical sites, most of which date to the Revolutionary War, and these sites also memorialize the park and its role in the development of New York.

A brief account of the history leading up to the park’s official opening in 1909 is a fitting introduction for the Palisades. ^[12] The Indians who initially inhabited the shoreline referred to the cliffs as “We-awken,” which means “rocks that look like trees” in English.^[13] Giovanni de Verrazano was the first European to lay eyes on the cliffs of the Palisades in 1524 on a voyage that landed him in the New York Harbor.^[14] Almost one century later, as Henry Hudson sailed up the river between what would eventually become New York and New Jersey on September 12, 1609, he spotted the jutting rocks of the Palisades and anchored there for the night.^[15] For each party that came in contact with this stretch of shoreline, the protruding rocks were a focal point, as a testament to their long-standing majesty. Thus, when the Palisades were dedicated in 1909, the sheer beauty and splendor of the landscape was also memorialized for future generations to enjoy.

During the Revolutionary War, the rocks of the Palisades figured into numerous events and battles. Landmarks including Fort Lee, Fort Montgomery, Fort Clinton, and Stony Point are situated in the Palisades, and it was at these locations in 1776 that Washington was forced to retreat from the attacking British, until a tactical American victory at Stony Point turned the favor toward the Americans.^[16] Many markers of these historic attractions remained in the park and were present during the dedication. In addition to the scenery of the Palisades, the opening of the Interstate Park in 1909 also honored the history, especially from Revolutionary times, of the area.

Amidst the population boom in the city and surrounding areas in the mid-nineteenth century, large amounts of stone quarrying began to tear apart the facade of the Palisades cliffs.^[17] The rock excavation came in response to the large demand for construction materials, and “continued unabated day and night for years as the quarries expanded northward.”^[18] It soon became apparent that, were the quarrying to continue at such an accelerated pace, the Palisades would be completely blasted away after long. ^[19]

By 1890, residents of both New York and New Jersey began to oppose the destruction of the Western Hudson’s cliffs. It was not until 1899, however, that a bill was passed in New Jersey that allowed a commission to be created whose chief concern would be the preservation of the Palisades. ^[20]  Putting an end to the quarrying became the Commission’s biggest concern, and by the end of 1903, at least fifty percent of the quarried land was acquired and preserved. At the time of the dedication in 1909, land acquisition of the Palisades quarries was practically complete, and the park as it is known today was created.^[21][22]

In 1909, the dedication and official opening to the public of the Palisades Interstate Park was an elaborate event, including prayers, commemorative speeches, a flag raising ceremony, salutes from U.S. warships, music, and an authentic ceremonial Iroquois dance.^[23] The opening prayer, given by Reverend Howard C. Robbins of Englewood, New Jersey, touched on the necessity of appreciating nature and all it has to offer, as well as the advances brought about by human hands. He thanked God for putting “into the heart of Thy servant Robert Fulton the great device whereby the ends of the earth are brought together and the brotherhood of nations is made manifest.”^[24] This theme of international harmony was also mentioned in other speeches, portraying New York as a cosmopolitan city. Additional addresses were given by the President of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission George W. Perkins, Governor Hughes of New York, Governor J. Franklin Fort of New Jersey, and Dr. George F. Kunz of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Committee. Perkins, who spoke first, gave the spectators a brief contextual background of the preservation of the Palisades as explained above, stressing the accessibility of the park to the public and further plans of expansion.^[25] Perkins closed his lecture by stating, “Here, within actual sight of our great throbbing city, is a little world of almost virgin nature, which has been rescued for the people and now stands as a monument to the discovery of the Hudson River…”^[26] Thus, although the park is not a sculpture in itself, it represents a fundamental event in the history of New York and functions as a memorial to Henry Hudson’s accomplishments.

Governor Charles H. Hughes was the next official to speak at the dedication, and he focused mainly on the subject of preservation, paying direct attention to the natural conditions that made all of the achievements being celebrated possible. He addressed the issues of forest protection, stream pollution, and preservation of the scenic Hudson shoreline.^[27] Hughes concluded his speech with a suggestion for the future, saying, “these Palisades…must be put beyond the reach of the devastating hand and conserved for the general good…”^[28] Dr. George F. Kunz, President of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society and member of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Committee, was next in line to present his commemorative speech. He also praised the preservation of the Palisades and the Hudson River as a whole, and he insisted on the importance of public parks in relation to the city, saying that “they afford the single and indispensible opportunity to enjoy a breath of fresh, pure air…Let the poor people of New York…be given every facility to visit this park…to fill their lungs with the uncontaminated air of this beautiful tract.…”^[29]

Finally, Governor J. Franklin Fort of New Jersey presented his address to the spectators. He spoke of the historical interest of the Palisades while also suggesting numerous monuments that he believed should eventually stand in the park. In essence, the Palisades Interstate Park was meant to be a memorial which marked the majesty and history of the area it covers, while also commemorating the Revolutionary importance of the site. Fort also mentioned the prominent J.P. Morgan, who contributed funds at a crucial time in the preservation of the park.^[30] He ended his speech by honoring the natural beauty of the Palisades.^[31]

Following the speeches, a flag raising ceremony commenced, which was followed by a salute of the United States warships that rested in the Hudson down the banks of the Palisades. A band played music and the dedication concluded with a traditional dance performed by a group of Iroquois Indians, described as “a picturesque feature of the exercises.”^{[32] [33]}

Hudson Monument: This monument, the cornerstone of which was laid and dedicated on Monday, September 27, 1909, is located on Spuyten Duyvil Hill in New York City. The location, at the time of Hudson’s arrival, was inhabited by an aboriginal village of the Weck-quas-keeks tribe.^[34] According to the log of the Half Moon, upon its landing at this spot below Spuyten Duyvil Hill in October 1609, a fight broke out between the Indians and Hudson’s crew, during which a large number of Indians were killed.^[35] During the Revolutionary era, multiple forts existed in this spot as well, giving it a multi-faceted history. The monument itself, first suggested by Mr. William C. Muschenheim, consists of a “fluted Doric column, standing upon a cubical plinth…surmounted by a statue of Henry Hudson.”^[36] At a height of three hundred feet, the column represented in elevation the tercentennial anniversary of Hudson’s arrival. ^[37]

There was a large audience at the laying of the cornerstone in 1909, including a group of “real Iroquois Indian men, women and children, in native costumes….”^[38] A battalion was on hand to fire a salute, while the international war fleet and replicas of the Half Moon and Clermont sat in the distant river. Music provided by a band and the New York Templar Quartette was sprinkled throughout the speeches given by Mr. George W. Perkins, Mr. Frank Pendleton, Dr. James Douglas, Mr. John Jay McKelvey, Governor Charles E. Hughes of New York, and Judge Warren Higley. Noteworthy in these speeches is the description of the articles placed in the cornerstone box, given by the Secretary of the Hudson Monument Committee, John Jay McKelvey. These articles included the official publications of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission and the Palisades Commission, a collection of photographs of the monument’s spot and views from it, samples of coinage from the smallest coin to the five-dollar gold piece, copies of morning and afternoon newspapers of the era, and the proceedings of the Celebration Commission with the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Zoological Society.^[39] These artifacts were chosen so that posterity would have an idea of what life was like in 1909, when the cornerstone was laid. Placing this information in the Hudson monument’s foundation also gave the memorial context while connecting it to the Celebration in 1909. Governor Hughes spoke of Hudson’s qualities, stating that he “represents to us those virtues of daring, of unfailing courage, of persistence, of loyalty and truth which are essential to the maintenance of our institutions.”^[40] Next to speak was Judge Warren Higley, who gave a brief overview of the history of Hudson and then officially dedicated the monument, proclaiming:

Masterful seaman, brave commander, persistent in every work that was given him to do, faithful to duty even unto death, great discoverer, benefactor of mankind, in the name of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Committee, and in the name of the Hudson Monument Citizens’ Committee, through whose patriotism and generosity this noble shaft is about to rise to completion, I have the distinguished honor to dedicate this noble monument to the lasting memory and eternal fame of the hero, the navigator, the martyr – Henry Hudson.^[41]

The dedication was followed by a reception at the Johnson homestead, organized by a Ladies Committee. The Hudson monument was finished in 1939, thirty years after the official dedication described above. A statue of Hudson was added to the top of the column at this time, completing the previous plans for the memorial.

Dutch School Teachers Tablet: ^[42] This monument, dedicated on September 28, 1909, was erected to honor the seven public school teachers who taught under Dutch rule. The tablet was commissioned by New York University and it was placed on the northwest corner of the University Building at Washington Square.^[43] It depicts, at the top of the tablet, the seal of the university, while an inscription below the seal states:

In Honor of the Seven Public School Teachers Who Taught Under Dutch Rule on Manhattan Island
Adam Roelandsen Jan Cornelissen Jan Stevensen William Vestens Jan de la Montagne Harmanus van Hoboken Evert Pietersen
MDCXXXIII – MDCLXXIV
Erected MCMIX.^[44]

An address was given at the dedication by Baron d’Aulnis de Bourouill, who was a Professor at the University of Utrecht and a member of the Netherlands delegation of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. The tablet was unveiled by the City Superintendent of Schools, William H. Maxwell.^[45]

Robert Fulton Bust: A bronze bust of the inventor was dedicated on September 29, 1909, in the Hall of Fame at New York University. Since the bust was placed on top of a previously existing colonnade bearing a tablet commemorating Fulton, no inscription was placed on the bust.^[46] The dedication itself began in the University auditorium at 4 PM, in which an address on Robert Fulton was given by Charles Stewart Smith, the President of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York from 1887-1894. Another speech, entitled “From Sailing Vessels to Steam Navigation,” which was written by an official Netherlands delegate to the Hudson-Fulton Celebration named S. P. van Eeghen and read at this time by Mr. James P. Cannon.^[47] Following this presentation, the bust was unveiled by Mr. Samuel W. Fairchild, Chairman of the Committee on Internal Trade and Improvements of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York.^[48]

Fort Amsterdam Tablet: This monument, located on the United States Custom House in Bowling Green, New York, was dedicated on Wednesday, September 29, 1909 at 11 AM.^[49] Built by the New York Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, the bronze tablet signified the original site of Fort Amsterdam, also known by its various aliases, between the years of 1626-1790. It also commemorated the 1609 discovery of the Hudson River and the triumph of American independence.^[50] When the first Dutch settlers arrived on Manhattan Island under the direction of Peter Minuit, their foremost concern was to construct a fort. This fort, called Fort Amsterdam, was most likely the first building ever erected on the island. ^[51] Throughout the early years of the colony, “the fort was the seat of government, the harbor of refuge and the place of worship, and the history of New Netherland and of colonial New York could be written very fully from the events connected with this site.”^[52] Although the fort was eventually destroyed in 1790 to make room for a Government House, the tablet that was placed on the Custom House in 1909 memorialized Fort Amsterdam for generations to come.^[53]

^[54] The tablet itself was made by J. & R. Lamb and contains, on its upper half, a precise outline of what the fort looked like in 1774. The seal of the New York Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America appears on the lower left hand side of the tablet and a compass appears on the right.^[55] The inscription read:

This outline of the fort is made on a scale of 12.5 feet to the inch from “A plan of Fort George in the City of New York” made at the request of the Honourable Jon Cruger Esquire and the rest of the committee appointed to fix on a suitable place for building a Government House made this 12th April 1774 by Gerard Bancker. On this site Fort Amsterdam was erected 1626 and its successor Fort George was demolished 1790 To Commemorate the Exploration of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson in September 1609 The Founding of New Amsterdam May 4, 1626 and the Establishment of American Independence, 1775-1783 This tablet is placed by The New York Society of the Order of The Founders and Patriots of America September 1909.^[56]

At the dedication a group of Iroquois Indians were present, of which one William Crow spoke briefly of his wishes for a happy existence among citizens.^[57] Other speakers included George Clinton Batchellor, Governor of the New York Society of Founders and Patriots, Edward Hagaman Hall & Theodore Fitch, former Governors of this society, and William Leob, Collector of Port of New York. A noteworthy excerpt from the speech was Fitch’s welcoming of all nations participating in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration.^[58] A performance by the Indians concluded the dedication.

First Line of Defense Tablet: ^[59] Dedicated on September 29, 1909, this tablet was located at 147th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. It was erected by the Washington Heights Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and placed upon a boulder.^[60] Similarly to other historical plaques dedicated in 1909, the inscription read as follows:

This stone marks the position of ‘The First Line of Defense’ Constructed across these heights and bravely defended by The American Army, 1776 Erected by the Washington Heights Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, October, 1909.^[61]

The program of events for this dedication included music, an invocation, a speech on the purpose of the memorial, the presentation and unveiling of the memorial, the city’s acceptance of the monument, a historical address and a lecture on the public point of view. It concluded with a benediction and doxology, and following the dedication a reception was held at Alexander Hamilton’s old home, now known as Saint Luke’s P.E. Church in Hamilton Grange.^[62]
The historical significance of the tablet’s location dates back to the Revolutionary era. It was in this area that three lines of defense were constructed to retaliate against British forces in 1776.^[63] On October 27, 1776, the British army moved toward Harlem, threatening these lines, and the American forces successfully resisted the attack.^[64] This first line of defense monument was built to commemorate the soldiers who defended our country in these battles. On a larger scale, the role of revolutionary monuments erected within contemporary times was to remind the public of all who fought in the name of America for our independence.

City Wall Bastion Tablet: ^[65] This tablet, erected by the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New York and located at 48 Wall Street, was dedicated on September 29, 1909. It marked the site of an old support of the New York City wall.^[66] The ceremony consisted of an invocation, a transfer of custody of the tablet and an acceptance of the tablet (both with accompanying addresses), a closing speech, and dedications by the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission.^[67] The tablet, designed by Messrs. Beatty and Stone and cast by Mr. John Williams, consists of a border of Indians beads, arrowheads, and bullets, with Tudor roses adorning each corner.^[68] Within this border, there is a 1695 plan of the city south of Wall Street, as well as a representation of the Half Moon. The seal of the Society of Colonial Wars also appears on the bronze tablet, which bears the inscription: “Here stood a bastion of the wall which between 1653 and 1699 extended from the East River along the line of the present Wall Street and thence Westerly to the North or Hudson’s River… This tablet was erected by the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New York on the occasion of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration and unveiled the 29th September, 1909.”^[69]

The wall was constructed in 1653 to protect New Amsterdam against British attack. It reached from the North to the East River, stretching along the line of modern-day Wall Street to the fort at the foot of Broadway.^[70] Although the wall was demolished in 1699, the tablet marks approximately where the original bastion stood.

Fort Tryon Tablet: ^[71] This monument, erected by the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, was dedicated on September 29, 1909, upon the face of a rock located on Fort Washington Avenue in line with 183rd Street.^[72] As a strategic military site, Fort Tryon had the potential of driving back British forces during the Revolution, but it was poorly manned and the Americans suffered extensive losses. All were buried around the neighborhood of the fort, and the monument specifically commemorated “the heroism of the first woman who took an active part in actual warfare in defense of American liberties.”^[73]

The black polished granite tablet was designed by Charles R.Lamb and built by J. & R. Lamb of New York, and was embellished with bronze and an inlaid authentic cannon acquired from the U.S. armory at Watervliet.^[74] Upon the tablet is inscribed the following message, in a similar fashion with other 1909 plaques:

1776 Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission 1909 On this hilltop stood Fort Tryon The northern out-work of Fort Washington Its gallant defense against The Hessian Troops By The Maryland and Virginia Regiment 16 November 1776 was shared by Margaret Corbin The First American Woman to take a Soldier’s part in the War for Liberty Erected under the Auspices of The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society Through the Generosity of/ C. K. G. Billings.^[75]

The program of events at the ceremony included several addresses pertaining to the purpose, history and heroine of the monument, as well as the unveiling of the tablet, a salute, and accompanying music. In addition, a group of Iroquois Indians performed a “Feather Dance.”^[76] The speeches given during the ceremony touched on the bravery and nobility of Americans, as well as the evolving role of women in war. Speakers included Dr. George F. Kunz, Colonel Daniel Appleton, Mrs. William Cumming Story and Miss Helen Varick Boswell. Col. Appleton gave a particularly rousing speech, calling out to the young people of the country to protect their land, and reiterating that “in peace, prepare for war…let us not neglect so important, so obvious a duty as preparedness for war,”^[77] while Miss Boswell spoke out for the rights of women, saying “I dare to believe that most of you are a little more ready to yield your allegiance to the American woman, and I dare to promise for her that she will hold up your hands, in peace as in war, and send you forth to do battle for the right, wherever the battle is to be fought.”^[78]

Giovanni da Verrazzano Monument: ^[79] This memorial, located in Battery Park in lower Manhattan, was dedicated on October 6, 1909. It is a representation of the Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazanno, who sailed in to the New York harbor under French rule in 1524.^[80] Designed by Ettore Ximenes, the monument consists of a bronze bust of the navigator, atop a granite base. Another bronze allegorical figure stands in front of the base, below Verrazzano’s bust.^[81] This figure holds a torch in her left hand and a sword in her right.^[82] A book lay open at her feet, bearing the dates 1524 and 1909. These dates represent, respectively, the year Verrazzano sailed into the harbor and the year the statue was dedicated.^[83] The inscriptions on the pedestal are in Italian, but translate as follows. On the west side, the message reads: “In 1909, America and Italy remember Giovanni da Verrazzano, Florentine, who was the first European – preceding the fortunate sailor after whom they were named – to navigate these waters, whose shores were destined to become one of the leading cities of the world.” On the east side, the inscription proclaims: “For the sake of historical truth and justice, this monument was erected by Il Progreso Italo-Americano, edited by Carlo Barsotti, with the support of the Italians resident in New York, 6 October 1909.”^[84]

The dedication of this monument was conducted by the Verrazzano Monument Committee as well as the enthusiastic Italian colony of the city. Beginning near Madison Square at 1 PM on the day of the dedication, a procession evolved down Broadway towards Battery Park.^[85] Marines from the Italian ships visiting in the harbor were on hand, as were legions of other spectators. The unveiling of the monument was done by a little girl by the name of Gertrude Gahrman, who made it known to the crowd that “it was an Italian who discovered the island of Manhattan.”^[86] Following the unveiling, the editor of the monument, Mr. Carlo Barsotti, spoke of Italian patriotism and nationalism, as well as the vindication that this statue provided for the Italians of New York, since Verrazzano was truly the first European to discover the land. Other speeches were made by Admiral Brocchetti of the Italian navy, the Italian ambassador Marquis Montagliari, Mr. Lousi Steckler, and General Stewart L. Woodford.^[87] Most touched on the subject of the true history of the discovery of Manhattan Island, while Steckler qualified the fact that Hudson was the first explorer to navigate the river itself.^[88]

At the closing of the Verrazzano monument dedication, Judge Warren Higley stated that “^[m]any times in history it happens that those who have achieved have remained forgotten solely because their achievements have not been accompanied by the clamor of their contemporaries. But it is the duty of posterity to record them and honor them for their greatness.”^[89] Within this statement, Judge Higley captured the true essence of the monuments of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. While some citizens in 1909 may have forgotten the events of years past or possibly never even learned them, it was up to the Celebration to keep history and tradition from fading away. The Hudson-Fulton celebration attempted to do so by enriching the city with historical monuments that told stories of history, while also beautifying the environment around them. The memorials of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 were built with an educational purpose, but also served to embed history into the physical framework of the city itself.