Hudson River Towing
The Hudson River is the birthplace of commercial steam navigation, starting with Robert Fulton in 1807. Although initially operated as passenger and packet (mail) vessels, steamboast were quickly repurposed for towing barges and other vessels and by the 1830s were being purpose-built as towboats. Towboats are side wheel steamboats designed for towing barges and other vessels. Tugboats, which were developed in the 1870s and which used screw propulsion, quickly replace the towboats in the last few decades of the 19th century.
Towing is still an extremely important business on the river today. As part of the RiverWise project, the Hudson River Maritime Museum will be creating a series of documentary films about tugboats and towing on the Hudson River, including towing companies past and present. We are fundraising to support these documentary films. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated.
Towing is still an extremely important business on the river today. As part of the RiverWise project, the Hudson River Maritime Museum will be creating a series of documentary films about tugboats and towing on the Hudson River, including towing companies past and present. We are fundraising to support these documentary films. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated.
Articles
"Hudson River Cargoes and Carriers" by Allynne Lange. Pilot Log, 1999.
Tugboats, barges, and cargoes of the Hudson River.
"Thomas Cornell and the Cornell Steamboat Company" Pilot Log, 2001.
From senator to monopolist, the founding of commercial steamboating on Rondout Creek.
"The Towboats" Pilot Log, 2002.
"A Salute to Athens and New Baltimore-Built Tugboats" by William duBarry Thomas. Pilot Log 2006.
"The Evolution of the Hudson River Towing Industry" by William duBarry Thomas. Pilot Log 2009-2010.
Tugboats, barges, and cargoes of the Hudson River.
"Thomas Cornell and the Cornell Steamboat Company" Pilot Log, 2001.
From senator to monopolist, the founding of commercial steamboating on Rondout Creek.
"The Towboats" Pilot Log, 2002.
"A Salute to Athens and New Baltimore-Built Tugboats" by William duBarry Thomas. Pilot Log 2006.
"The Evolution of the Hudson River Towing Industry" by William duBarry Thomas. Pilot Log 2009-2010.
Films
Although there aren't any documentary films about towing and tugboats specifically on the Hudson River (not yet, anyway!), we did find this documentary film about the tugboats of New York Harbor from PBS. You can watch the full documentary on Amazon Prime.
Books
Tugboats and Shipyards: The Russells of New York Harbor, 1844-1962 by Hilary Russell, Jr.
Written by friend of the museum and boatbuilder Hilary Russell, this book chronicles the work of the Russell family of boatbuilders, including one of their last builds - Russell 1 - later renamed the W. O. Decker and is housed at Southstreet Seaport. She was restored in 2018.
You can purchase this book via AbeBooks by clicking on the book cover or following the link above. Also available at the Hudson River Maritime Museum store.
Written by friend of the museum and boatbuilder Hilary Russell, this book chronicles the work of the Russell family of boatbuilders, including one of their last builds - Russell 1 - later renamed the W. O. Decker and is housed at Southstreet Seaport. She was restored in 2018.
You can purchase this book via AbeBooks by clicking on the book cover or following the link above. Also available at the Hudson River Maritime Museum store.
Thomas Cornell and the Cornell Steamboat Company by Stuart Murray (2001)
This is the story of a great New York State entrepreneur and his steamboat company. It is also about a period of Hudson Valley history so colorful and important that it should never be forgotten. The Cornell Steamboat Company, founded in 1837, was once the leading tugboat company in the nation. In an era of unbridled free enterprise, the company won a virtual monopoly of the Hudson River towing and endured into the 1960s. Founder and president Thomas Cornell was a man of many interests: railroad and hotel builder, two-term congressman, founder and president of two banks. The Cornell Steamboat Company was the jewel of Cornell's vast business empire.
Available on Amazon or at the Hudson River Maritime Museum store.
This is the story of a great New York State entrepreneur and his steamboat company. It is also about a period of Hudson Valley history so colorful and important that it should never be forgotten. The Cornell Steamboat Company, founded in 1837, was once the leading tugboat company in the nation. In an era of unbridled free enterprise, the company won a virtual monopoly of the Hudson River towing and endured into the 1960s. Founder and president Thomas Cornell was a man of many interests: railroad and hotel builder, two-term congressman, founder and president of two banks. The Cornell Steamboat Company was the jewel of Cornell's vast business empire.
Available on Amazon or at the Hudson River Maritime Museum store.
