Along the Hudson

Takes you on eight fascinating walks along Manhattan's Hudson waterfront, with stops along the way to explore its architecture, infrastructure, and history.

Through eight structured walks from Battery Park to Spuyten Duyvil, Along the Hudson tells the story of the rise, decline, and rebirth of Manhattan's Hudson waterfront from the seventeenth century to the present day. It traces the ongoing evolution of the Hudson shoreline from a gritty line of working docks into a desirable residential enclave and a chain of inviting parks. Along the way special attention is paid to notable buildings both historical and contemporary, to key transportation infrastructure, and to seminal historic events and personalities that shaped New York's dynamic relationship with the river that is its reason for being. Some of the many sites readers will explore include:

At the foot of Pearl Street, the Wireless Operators Memorial (1915) honors radio operators who died at sea. Jack Phillips, radio man on the Titanic, is the first name listed.

Westbeth, a five-building complex filling the entire square block along West Street between Bank and Bethune Streets. Once home to Bell Labs, the site was converted to provide housing and workspace for artists, writers, and performers.

Anna Hyatt Huntington's statue of Joan of Arc at 96th Street honors the French saint. Its gothic pedestal contains stones from the jail cell where Joan was imprisoned. Depicting a female hero sculpted by a female artist, this monument inspired many copies erected across the country.

Next to the George Washington Bridge, at 178th Street, stands Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse, which inspired a children's book entitled The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.

William J. Hennessey is an architectural historian and retired art museum Director. He is the author of two architectural guidebooks, Walking Broadway: Thirteen Miles of Architecture and History and Fifth Avenue: From Washington Square to Marcus Garvey Park.