Lighthouse Tour of the Hudson River 2012
Group Shot at the Colchester Reef Lighthouse
In 1952 Electra Havemeyer Webb purchased the neglected and dilapidated lighthouse, dismantling and relocating to its presend landlocked location on the grounds of the Shelburne Museum
Great view of Manhattan from the top of the Empire State Building - By John Bruha
Megan, Dick and Mary on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty
Norma, Ruth, Laurel, Marge, Amy & other members share a bench on the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty
Jill, Nancy & Joan enjoying the cruise
Carol Ann & John on the way to the Statue of Liberty… "Hang Loose" John!
Jill, Vince, Lovina & Dave get the first look at Ellis Island
Marge & Sally on the cruise
Great view of the Manhattan Skyline from the cruise
View of Ellis Island on our way to the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty in all her glory
Bob, Mary, Amy, Vince, Joan, Jill, Don, Nancy, Glen, John Sally, George, Megan & MaryLou at Ellis Island
Everyone on top of our double decker tour bus all ready to see the sights of New York... I just wish our guide talked more, he was so quiet!
One World Trade Center, more simply known as 1 WTC and previously known as the Freedom Tower, is the lead building of the new World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City. At 1,776 feet tall, One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
The Empire State Building from the top of our NYC tour bus
Can anyone find me a cab?
Times Square
The Lightship Ambrose, at the South Stree Seaport
The Titanic Memorial is this faux lighthouse at the South Street Seaport
Marian & Megan at Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse
Anna, Al & Don at Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse
Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse. Only ten years after Jeffrey's Hook Light was assembled here, the George Washington Bridge was built overhead. Under the bridge's bright lights, the lighthouse became obsolete for the second time. In 1947, the Coast Guard proposed to dismantle the lighthouse, but the public protested with an outpouring of letters to officials, largely because the lighthouse was a beloved character in the 1942 children's book "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge", written by Hildegarde H. Swift and illustrated by Lynd Ward. The campaign to save the lighthouse was successful and on July 23, 1951 it came under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. In the book, the Little Red Lighthouse feels dwarfed by the George Washington Bridge. He feels unneeded and unwanted until one particularly foggy night when the Bridge calls to him, "Little brother, where is your light?" The Lighthouse wonders, "Am I brother of yours bridge? Your light was so bright that I thought mine was needed no more." The Bridge replied, "I flash to the ships of the air. But you are still master of the river. Quick, let your light shine. Each to his own place, little brother!"
Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse is the last surviving lighthouse on Manhattan Island.
Laurel, Sarah, Glen, Nancy & Tim at the top of Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse
Tim inside Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse
Carol Ann climbing Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse
View of the Hudson River from the top of Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse
Megan & Shannon with the Ranger that opened up Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse for us and let us climb all over it
A view of Execution Rocks Lighthouse on our curise out of City Isle
Green Buoy with the Manhattan skyline in the background
Sands Point Lighthouse
Everyone getting their shots of Sands Point Lighthouse
Stepping Stones Lighthouse
Getting ready to have lunch on our City Isle cruise
Throgs Neck
Tarrytown Lighthouse
Don, Judy, Tim, Don, Nancy, Marge & Sarah at Tarrytown Lighthouse
First floor inside the Tarrytown Lighthouse
More on the first floor of the Tarrytown Lighthouse
Second floor of the Tarrytown Lighthouse
Going to the top of the Tarrytown Lighthouse
Posted on the wall in the Tarrytown Lighthouse: Smile
It cost nothing, but creates much
It enriches those who receive without impovershing those who give
It happens in a flash and the memory of it lasts forever
None are so rich they can get along without it and
None so poor but are richer for it's benefits
It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business and is the countersign of friends
It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged,
Sunshine to the sad, and natures best antidote for trouble
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen
For it is something that is of no earthly good to anyone until it is given away
If someone is too tired to give you a smile, leave one of yours
For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none to give
Distant view of Tarrytown Lighthouse
The entrance to Stony Point State park, leading us to the Stony Point Lighthouse
USLHS fog signal bell on display at the museum at the Stony Point Lighthouse
Fresnel lens display at the museum at the Stony Point Lighthouse
Display at the Stony Point Lighthouse
Some of the ordnaces found on the battlefield at Stony Point. Judging by the quantity of ordinace the Americans captured, the British were very well armed
Cohorn Mortar
This small Cohorn mortar, designed to lob solid shot and exploding shell in a high arc over enemy defenses, was easily carried by an ary in the field. Manufactured in Britian, it was captured by the Americans at Stony Point, which is where it is displayed on a reporduction mortar bed.
Lovina & Dave waiting to catch a ride on the golf cart up to the Stony Point Lighthouse
Rich & Don at the Stony Point Lighthouse Museum
The path leading to the Stony Point Lighthouse
View of the Hudson River from the top of the Stony Point Lighthouse
The Stony Point Lighthouse
Lisa, Marian, Madeline, Al & George enjoying a beautiful day next to the Stony Point Lighthouse
Part of the battlefield site at the Stony Point State Park
Megan sharing a Starbucks with Franklin Delano Roosevelt & Eleanor
Amy, Carol Ann & Mary on the way to the FDR Mansion
George, Vince, Glen & John outside the FDR Mansion
The group waiting for our tour of the FDR Mansion
Rich and Carol Ann at the FDR Mansion
Inside the FDR Mansion
Inside the FDR Mansion
Library inside the FDR Mansion
Library inside the FDR Mansion
Games on display in the Library inside the FDR Mansion
There were a bunch of stuffed birds around... Tippi Hedren would not have liked it here
Dinner table inside the FDR Mansion
Bedroom inside the FDR Mansion
Another bedroom inside the FDR Mansion
Cool phone!
If you can believe it, this is a portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a child!
Franklin Delano Roosevelt desk
Cornerstone of the FDR Mansion - 1915
Interesting bell on the porch of the FDR Mansion
Stables at the FDR Mansion for "Lady Luck" & "Patches"
Garden at the FDR Mansion
Beautiful path on the property of the FDR Mansion
Rondout Creek Lighthouse
Everyone on our cruise out to Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Patt & Shannon at the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Marian with one of the volunteers at the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Lovina climbing the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Lisa climbing the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Laurel climbing the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Light at the top of the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Sally & MaryLou at the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Saugerties Lighthouse. It was first operated in 1869 and automated in 1954. Vacant for decades, the building fell into disrepair. Rescued from demolition, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and rennovation began in 1986. The Navigational beacon was restored to operation in 1990.
Mary Ann & Rich at the Saugerties Lighthouse
Dick at the Saugerties Lighthouse
Inside the kitchen at the Saugerties Lighthouse. Patrick was nice enough to show us around and let us climb the lighthouse
Display inside the Saugerties Lighthouse
Having lunch on the deck at the Saugerties Lighthouse
Judy climbing to the top of the Saugerties Lighthouse
View from the top of the Saugerties Lighthouse
Anna & Al enjoying thier lunch on the deck at the Saugerties Lighthouse
Tim at the top of the Saugerties Lighthouse, with the USLHS replica flag blowing in the wind behind him
Shannon & Patt at the Saugerties Lighthouse
Megan was all smiles at the top of the Saugerties Lighthouse
George hanging out inside the Saugerties Lighthouse
The Saugerties Lighthouse
Glen walking the path back to the bus from the Saugerties Lighthouse
Cathedral located at West Point, which houses the largest pipe organ in the country. We were lucky enough to be there when they were getting ready for an event and we got to hear them test it... awesome!
Our tour guide for our tour of West Point was a bright high school senior, and gave us a great tour!
More of our West Point Tour
On our way out to the Hudson Athens Lighthouse
Hudson Athens Lighthouse
Emily Bruner, daughter of the Keeper's at the Hudson Athens Lighthouse, lived there in the 1930's and 1940's. Here she is telling Megan, Al & Judy some great stories
The Crown Point Lighthouse
Everyone climbing the Crown Point Lighthouse
Great shot of the Crown Point Lighthouse
Closer view of the Crown Point Lighthouse
The Barber's Point Lighthouse. It is privatly owned, but close enough to the street to get some nice photos. I hope the two trees next to the garage don't get much higher!
Local wildlife at the Barber's Point Lighthouse
Barber's Point Lighthouse lantern room
Megan was really hoping that the tractor would start at the National Bicentennial Farm next to Barber's Point Lighthouse
Another interesting structure at the Bicentennial Farm next to Barber's Point Lighthouse
Lighthouse Way, the private road we took to the Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse (that's right there is another Split Rock Lighthouse). This one, on the Hudson River is privatly owned and they were nice enough to not only let us on the property, but we even got to climb to the top!
Ruth & Norma at the Split Rock Lighthouse
Gary, the owner of the Split Rock Lighthouse, talking to the group about the property and history
Madeline, Al & Anna at the Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse from the back
Our savior... Chatt & Dawn, who were doing their own tour of the area, agreed to use their vehicle to ferry us to the lighthouse.
Chatt & Gary back at the farm... not sure what they are talking about, I think Chatt is talking about a giant fish!
The Essex to Charlotte ferry and into Vermont we went
There's Dick checking out The Ticonderoga at the Shelburne Museum
Marge holding a giant coco bean at the Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory
Sitting next to the factory floor we learned about chocolate... and got free samples at the Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory
The conveyor belt of chocolate reminded us of the "I Love Lucy" episode...
Scary ghost chocolates
The factory floor at the Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory
Megan couldn't resist from walking out of there without two bags full of chocolate
Glen & Don at the Church Street Market in Burlington Vermont
Rich & Megan getting ready to board our last cruise of five lighthouses on Lake Champlain
Our ship for the Lake Champlain Cruise
The first lighthouse on our cruise of Lake Champlain, Burlington North Breakwater Lighthouse
Chatt & Dawn joined us our the Lake Champlain cruise
Burlington South Breakwater Lighthouse
If you look close between the bushes, you can see the top of the Juniper Island Lighthouse. If you can believe it, this was the best view we could get
The modern light placed on Juniper Island
Lisa, Judy, Marge & Laurel enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
George, Amy & Marge enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Sarah & Mary enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Dick, Madeline & Tim enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Carlene, John & Chatt enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Chatt, Vince & John enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Dave enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Nancy, Jill & Joan enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Mary & Megan enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Jill & Dick enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Glen, Joan, Jill & Dick enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Mary Ann, John & Carol Ann enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Lake Champlain cruise
Lake Champlain cruise
Everyone getting lots of photos
Day marker on Lake Champlain
Patt & Shannon enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Mary Ann & Joan enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
Bluff Point Lighthouse
John in the dining room on the cruise... having fun!!!
Vince, Jill, Nancy, Megan, Rich, Joan & John
Cumberland Head Lighthouse
Megan, Joan & Jill enjoying the Lake Champlain cruise
It's finally time to eat. After cruising Lake Champlain and seeing all five lighthouses, we enjoyed our farewell dinner onboard as we cruised back to Burlington.
Getting back to Burlington at sunset, everyone got some spectacular sunset photos. This is Burlington South Breakwater Lighthouse
It only took about 20 attempts to get a shot of Burlington North Breakwater's light flashing... happily we were shooting digital
Sunset on the harbor in Burlington, Vermont
Another sunset on the harbor in Burlington, Vermont
And yet another sunset on the harbor in Burlington, Vermont
Megan with our captain who gave us a great cruise
Rich & Juan, our great driver!
