Ferry History: “Two Sides of the River”

May 8, 2011

New York harbor was once a ferryboat mecca, boasting numerous fleets of railroad, public, and privately owned vessels that carried millions of passengers and vehicles. For over a century, the ferry was the primary way to cross the mighty Hudson and other waters surrounding Manhattan Island. Each line boasted its own colorful vessels, supported by a unique shore-side infrastructure unrivaled to this day.

Engineer and historian Frank Vopasek IV, who spoke during our Up & Down the River exhibit in 2009, returns on Sunday, May 8, at 4 p.m. to present a program that pays homage to a way of life that disappeared almost overnight. He will highlight the nautical landmarks of New York harbor along with other long-retired vessels, telling a historical narrative from a nostalgic perspective, illustrated with 35 mm slides.