Washington, DC - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that he's won final congressional approval of $750,000 for the quadricentennial celebration of the historic voyages of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain, as well as for the bicentennial celebration of Robert Fulton's endeavor.  The funds are in addition to $492,000 in federal dollars that Hinchey secured in December 2007 for the quadricentennial celebration.  Hinchey used his seat on the House Appropriations Committee to secure the new $750,000 in federal funds as part of the bill that funds the Interior Department for 2009, which passed the House today. 

The congressman is working with the National Park Service (NPS) to determine exactly how the funds will be allocated as part of the celebrations this year surrounding the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's first exploratory sail up what is now called the Hudson River in 1609, the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's first exploration in 1609 of what is now called Lake Champlain, as well as the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's Hudson River voyage in 1807 in which he introduced steam navigation on a commercial basis.

"I am very pleased that Congress has given its final approval to my request of $750,000 to pay for a variety of activities that will take place later this year as part of the quadricentennial celebration," Hinchey said.  "These funds come at a critical time when planners are working to put everything into place for an exciting celebration of our history.  The events surrounding the quadricentennial celebration will generate tourism and other revenue for businesses and the state and provide residents and visitors with interesting and exciting opportunities to explore these important historical moments that took place in our backyard."

The National Park Service will use the $750,000 for a variety of initiatives.  Some projects under consideration include: a quadricentennial conference to be held at Marist College in Poughkeepsie; the underwriting of an elaborate website created and maintained by National Geographic (similar to the site they constructed for the Jamestown Quadricentennial); extending the voyage of the historic Peckinpaugh; creating a quadricentennial curriculum for the National Park Service/Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area's "Teaching the Hudson Valley" program; commissioning a Quadricentennial Commemorative Medal designed by a local coin artist who has designed several of the presidential dollar coins; underwriting a quadricentennial postscript conference -- "The Hudson River Valley and the next 100 years"; small grant awards to local communities organizing local quadricentennial celebrations; and the New York State quadricentennial historic dock program.

The first European exploration of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain, and the introduction of steam navigation to maritime commerce are celebrated both in the United States and abroad. In 1909, Americans celebrated the 300th anniversaries of these events with maritime celebrations and art exhibitions. The Dutch built the first replica of Hudson's ship, the Half Moon, and sent it up the Hudson River for the observance. Congress recognized the 350th anniversary by establishing a similar commission to coordinate federal participation in the 1959 celebrations.

Hinchey is the author of the legislation that created the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the first federal action formally recognizing the fundamentally significant role the people of the Hudson Valley played in the early development of America and its institutions.  The congressman has worked to secure various allocations of funding for the heritage area. 

Information on New York's planned quadricentennial celebration can be found at http://www.exploreny400.com/Home.aspx.