An Introduction by Camille Avena and Laura Marostica

The Hudson-Fulton Celebration and New York City
An Introduction by Camille Avena and Laura Marostica

From September 25 to October 11, 1909, New York City held an elaborate celebration, commemorating the tercentennial anniversary of Henry Hudson’s (b. 1570) discovery of the Hudson River, and the centennial anniversary of Robert Fulton’s (b. 1765) first successful commercial application of the steamboat. The event, however, did not merely reflect the success of these two men – it was also an opportunity to display the triumphs of New York City and its citizens. Known simply as “The Hudson-Fulton Celebration,” this festivity expressed New York’s status as a world city. The Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909, part of the grand tradition of New York celebrations, highlighted both the city’s aspirations and the national ambitions of the time.

The Celebration was created and organized by the Celebration Commission, consisting of a large group of wealthy and influential New Yorkers, such as J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and others. The Commission, over the course of its long planning period (from 1905-1909), established dozens of committees to oversee every detail of the event, from the Celebration’s official symbols, to the role of New York’s children. The Commission’s more general vision aimed to engage both the city’s diverse population and the American and foreign tourists who visited it, as well as to highlight the virtues of Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton. In 1909, these men were heroic in the eyes of New Yorkers, and their accomplishments held special significance because of their relationship to the Hudson River – Hudson’s 1609 discovery and voyage of its waters, and Fulton’s 1807 steamboat journey upon it. The River they travelled served as the commercial center of New York, boosting its economic and social development. Hudson and Fulton’s maritime achievements foreshadowed the Hudson River’s importance to New York’s progress and identity.

One way the memories of Hudson and Fulton were honored was in the replication of the Hudson’s Half Moon and Fulton’s Clermont, the sailboat and steamship they navigated on the river. Both vessels were newly constructed, displayed and dedicated with great fanfare, and were included in the Celebration’s grand naval parade, which emphasized the United States’ naval supremacy in the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, the Celebration’s military parade on Manhattan Island showcased American national identity and pride while simultaneously promoting international peace.

Although Hudson, Fulton, and their achievements were the foundation of the Celebration, the Commission also aimed to emphasize the history of New York City and State, from the Native American communities to the metropolitan city of 1909. This narrative was illustrated by the Celebration’s Historical Parade, which depicted four periods of New York history: the Native American Period, the Dutch Period, the English or Colonial Period, and the American or Modern Period.

The Dutch portion of the parade was particularly significant to the Celebration because Dutch contributions to New York history were particularly revered at the time, inspired by a revisionist history movement known as “Holland Mania” sweeping the country. This was made manifest in New York by the creation of the New York Holland Society, an exclusive club aiming to underscore the Dutch presence in New York, from Dutch values such as religious tolerance to the importance of education.

Education remained important in 1909, and was a distinct aspect of the Celebration Commission’s goals for the event. The Historical Parade, for example, was a way for the Commission to teach the diverse population of New York City -- many of whom were recent immigrants– about the history of both the United States and the city in which they now lived. Now more than ever, the children of immigrant families were particularly sought out by the public school system; Progressive reformers considered the education of children, especially the children of immigrants, paramount, because they were seen as the future of New York.

The children of New York had a specialized role in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. Hundreds of thousands participated in a Children’s Festival, which embraced all nationalities and classes. Even children from marginalized groups like African Americans were allowed to participate. The Children’s Festival employed dances, patriotic displays, and history lessons, which mirrored the civic lessons taught in Lower East Side settlement houses.

The Hudson-Fulton Celebration of 1909 was linked to several reform movements sweeping New York City, in addition to Progressivism. These included the Conservation and Preservation movements, which led to the creation of the Historical Preservation Society. This organization worked to restore and establish landmarks and parks; these goals would be seen in the Celebration, in the many dedications of monuments which occurred over the course of the festivities. These monuments promoted the history of the city, and provided, like the Historical Parade, a visual history lesson for New Yorkers. Similar to the Progressives’ City Beautiful Movement, these memorials hoped to develop a unified civic identity for the diverse inhabitants of New York City.

To express New York’s civic identity and its emerging cultural preeminence, the Commission organized a Carnival Parade. Its floats displayed the music, art, and literature of the Old World, in an attempt to link New York to London, Paris, and other European metropolises. This event was a night celebration which illuminated New York , creating an exciting and festive atmosphere.

The cultural refinement displayed in the Carnival Parade was just one example of New York’s status as a cosmopolis as displayed on the iconic Fifth Avenue. History and culture were present in the dozens of museum exhibitions designed specifically for the event to attract tourists from Europe and other parts of the United States. As the Carnival Parade’s floats and marchers moved down Fifth Avenue, spectators looked on in awe. They memorialized their visit to New York with postcards from the Celebration, a hobby that consumed America and bolstered the importance and economic development of the America’s postal service. The post office of New York, as well as the city’s transportation system were integral to the success of the 1909 Celebration, as they served to connect the vast American continent and spread awareness of both the event and the city.

This momentous occasion was much more than the commemoration of Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton – it was also a recreation of New York’s history, a promotion of the City’s culture, a window into the social movements of the time, and an attempt to strengthen New York’s national reputation and international status. The elaborate preparations of the Commission were not in vain; this last great celebration in New York City was appreciated by millions in 1909, and is a success worth remembering today.