Hudson River Valley Institute

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The Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist University is a regional studies center which takes an interdisciplinary approach to the unique and diverse history of the Hudson River Valley.

Happy Birthday to Nell Brinkley!!(1886 – 1944) Nell Brinkley, born in Colorado but living in New Rochelle, NY, was an Am...
09/05/2026

Happy Birthday to Nell Brinkley!!
(1886 – 1944)
Nell Brinkley, born in Colorado but living in New Rochelle, NY, was an American illustrator and comic artist who was sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Comics" during her nearly four-decade career working with New York newspapers and magazines. She was the creator of the Brinkley Girl, a stylish character who appeared in her comics and became a popular symbol in songs, films and theater. She often used her art for social messages and World War I propaganda.

Image2: Photo of artist Nell Brinkley
Image2: Golden Eyes with Uncle Sam by Nell Brinkley, c. 1918.

Happy Birthday to Brigadier General Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III (1873-1942)Neily Vanderbilt was an American militar...
09/05/2026

Happy Birthday to Brigadier General Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III
(1873-1942)
Neily Vanderbilt was an American military officer, inventor, engineer, and yachtsman. His interest with mechanics earned him over 30 patents, mostly connected to the functioning of locomotives. When WWI began, he joined and served in various regiments of the New York National Guard. He never actually saw action personally.
Image: American military officer Cornelius Vanderbilt III.

On September 4, 1949 the concert that inspired riots in Peekskill, NY finally took place and being initially delayed. Wh...
09/04/2026

On September 4, 1949 the concert that inspired riots in Peekskill, NY finally took place and being initially delayed. When black singer Paul Robeson was announced as a performer, his pro-trade union, civil rights activism, communist affiliations, and anti-colonialism stances set off a protest in the area.
Upon arrival for the concert set for August 27th, groups of mostly young people, set fire to a cross upon a nearby hill, began throwing rocks and chanting "Dirt Co**ie" and "Dirty K***s." Robeson was ultimately prevented from exiting his vehicle.
The concert was rescheduled for September 4th and went off mostly without incident. Men from the local labor unions, many with communist affiliation came out to act as security. This security was so effective that even local police were kept out of the concert ground at the old Hollow Brook Golf Course in Cortlandt Manor. Among those who performed were Pete Seeger, Hope Foy, Leonid Hambro and Robeson.
Suggested Reading:
Peekskill USA: Inside the Infamous 1949 Riots by Howard Fast
http://www.bencourtney.com/peekskillriots/
Image: Sept. 4, 1949: Demonstrators jeer at people arriving for Paul Robeson concert. Riots a week earlier had cancelled a Robeson performance

On September 4, 1807, Robert Fulton began operating scheduled passenger service on his steamboat between New York and Al...
09/04/2026

On September 4, 1807, Robert Fulton began operating scheduled passenger service on his steamboat between New York and Albany. The steamboat were scheduled to leave New York on Saturdays at 6:00 pm, and return from Albany on Wednesdays at 8:00 am, taking about 36 hours for each journey. Stops were made at West Point, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Esopus, and Hudson; other stops were sometimes made, such as Red Hook and Catskill.
Further Reading: Adams, Arthur G. (1983) The Hudson through the Years. Westwood, New Jersey: Lind Publications
Robert Fulton. Brief biography. https://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/.../c7ec073c-9e5d-4c49...
Image: The 1909 replica of the North River Steamboat (Clermont) at anchor.

Wyndclyffe, Mill RoadRhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY1976Historical Background: Wyndclyffe, originally called Rhinecliff, ...
09/03/2026

Wyndclyffe, Mill Road
Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY
1976

Historical Background: Wyndclyffe, originally called Rhinecliff, was constructed in 1853 as a summer and weekend residence for Elizabeth Schermerhorn Jones, a prominent New York City socialite and aunt of novelist Edith Wharton. The mansion exemplified Norman-style architecture and Hudson River Gothic design and was executed by local architect George Veitch, with intricate brickwork crafted by master mason John Byrd. It originally sat on 80 acres overlooking the Hudson River and included a carriage house, boathouse, and formal gardens

(Library of Congress)

Happy Birthday to Charles Downing Lay(1877-1956)Born in Newburgh, NY, Lay an American landscape architect. Some of his ...
09/03/2026

Happy Birthday to Charles Downing Lay
(1877-1956)
Born in Newburgh, NY, Lay an American landscape architect. Some of his best known projects include Madison Square Park, Battery Park and Bryant Park in NYC as well as helping with the designs for the Nation Academy of Sciences in Washington D.C.

Image 1: Charles Downing Lay
Image 2: Aerial view of the Battery in 2010. At park's left is Pier A, at park's right is South Ferry Terminal. On the far right is the East River.

This afternoon, HRVI took part in First Wednesday Student Welcome for Marist University's newly arrived students in the ...
09/02/2026

This afternoon, HRVI took part in First Wednesday Student Welcome for Marist University's newly arrived students in the School of Liberal Arts. We met a great cohort of first-year students, shared resources, and engaged with the group about the importance of place and thoughtful analysis on the way location impacts historical context.

The highlights of HRVI’s participation were the two activities for students: a map now filled with pins representing the geographic range of first year Liberal Arts students, and a collection of unique facts about those places.

Welcome to the class of 2030. Have fun getting to know the Hudson River Valley!

Cliff Rock, Sam's Point, Pine Bush, N.Y. Made By Tomlin Art Company, Northport, Long Island, N.Y.Sam’s Point is a scenic...
09/02/2026

Cliff Rock, Sam's Point, Pine Bush, N.Y.
Made By Tomlin Art Company, Northport, Long Island, N.Y.

Sam’s Point is a scenic overlook and trailhead area within Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County, NY, near Pine Bush. It’s part of the Shawangunk Ridge and offers dramatic views, hiking, and access to the Ellenville Fault Ice Caves.

https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16694coll63/id/14069/rec/11

Village of Poughkeepsie by Alexander Robertson, pen and ink on paperMade: September 2, 1796(Upper Landing Park)
09/02/2026

Village of Poughkeepsie by Alexander Robertson,
pen and ink on paper
Made: September 2, 1796
(Upper Landing Park)

Address

3399 North Road
Poughkeepsie, NY
12601

Telephone

+18455753052

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