Detail, map of northeastern United States from
Jacques Milbert,
Itineraire Pittoresque du Fleuve Hudson, 1828
Picture copied from:
"A Hudson River Portfolio"
New York Public Library web site
This web site contains wonderful historical information and images.
Here's another link, to a map of the Hudson River:
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701513218/Hudson_(river).html
Hearing about the tragic collision of a plane and helicopter over the Hudson River yesterday got me thinking about that river, and how the depths and the heights of the water and land in this country influenced European settlement.
Last fall I took a course in Geography of USA and Canada at Kutztown University. I learned many interesting things about the Hudson. The port area between New York and New Jersey and the river itself is very deep, which allowed ships to enter the harbor and sail up into New York state.
The earliest European immigrants arriving to the eastern shores of this land did not move westward because it was too difficult to cross the Appalachians. However, they could go up and around the mountains by traveling north on the Hudson to its intersection with the Mohawk River (near Albany), and west on the Mohawk until they reached the Great Lakes, which provided a gateway to the West. The construction of the Erie canal made this travel more feasible. Settlers could go westward from New York, and the products that they reaped or manufactured could come eastward to the New York area, or to be shipped to Europe.
I read a book called Riverhorse by William Least Heat Moon. He traveled across the USA, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by river (with some portaging here and there). In his book, which is an account of his trip, he says some fine things about the Hudson River.
Least Heat Moon has some Native American (Osage) heritage and his writings reflect a sensitive communication with the lands, waters, plants and animals that he encounters.
As I was reading Riverhorse I began to feel a part of the waterways he was travelling on. . . I seemed to be sensing the feelings of the rivers themselves! Reading the journal entries of Least Heat Moon as he travelled from one river to the next, I could sense a unique personality in each waterway. . . a magical, mystical feeling came over me. . . I began to imagine that the rivers were alive, and that they could talk to each another. . .
Allegheny: Hey, Big Muddy, how’re you doin’?
Missouri: I’m doing pretty good. I’m wondering if “Ol’ Man River” is mad at me…I sent him some pretty nasty-looking green runoff today.
Mississippi: Ahh, I know it’s not your fault. I’m doing okay too. As they say, I “just keep rollin’ along.”
Hudson: Hey, I got an interesting one I’m sending out to you.
Missouri: Sending to who?
Hudson: All of you!
Ohio: All of us?
Hudson: Oh, sorry. Not everybody. I’ve got a guy who is taking a trip across the country by river, from Elizabeth, New Jersey to the Pacific.
Mississippi: Wow!
Savannah: Well, I guess that route leaves me out. Too bad…that sounds interesting.
Arkansas: Ditto.. I could use some excitement!
Mississippi: What’s he like?
Hudson: I hate to say it, but for a human he seems all right! As a matter of fact – dare I say it? I’m feeling kind of loved!
Allegheny: Really?
Hudson: I haven’t felt this appreciated since Washington Irving lived on my banks in his home, "Sunnyside." I still enjoy the fragrance of the wisteria he planted around 150 years ago. I once heard him say “I thank God I was born on the banks of the Hudson!”
Mississippi: Reminds me of Mark Twain in Hannibal.
Missouri: What route is this guy taking?
Hudson: You’re on his route. As a matter of fact, you’re the key to making it all work!
Missouri: What do you mean?
Hudson: He wants to reach the Pacific this summer, so he needs snowmelt in June off the Rockies in order to get through your upper reaches. Can you come through?
Missouri: Don’t ask me - better ask Mother Nature! I can’t control the snow…I wish I could – it’s been a long time since I got a good washing!
Hudson: He got special permission to go through the Erie Canal before they open for the season, so he can make it out there in time. I have a feeling he’s going to be fretting all the way across the country worrying about snowmelt. . . By the way, he’s got "Nikawa" painted on his boat.
Missouri: Well, I’ll be darned…if I remember my Osage correctly, sounds like “ni,” which means river, and “kawa,” which means horse…Riverhorse…a nice name.
Columbia: Will he be coming my way?
Hudson: Mother Nature willing, you’ll be seeing him before the summer’s over! That’s if the Salmon will let him through!
Salmon: Heh, heh, heh…I will, after I have a little fun with him first!
Columbia: I’ll be waiting! Keep me posted. . .
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