Free Event: The History of the Hudson River Waterfront

Want to learn about the Hudson River waterfront’s history? A free event tomorrow will be diving deep. It will be starting at 6:30pm and will take place at Hostelling International at 891 Amsterdam Avenue (between 103rd and 104th Streets).

Dr. Kurt Schlichting will tell the story of the Upper West Side’s waterfront over the last 400 years.

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The East River was first used as a port, but it’s success led to the need for more shoreline access, so the development of the Hudson River waterfront began.

This waterfront development led to a huge influx of population and infrastructure. This would lead to lots of conflict. As stated on upperwestsidehistory.org:

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A protracted conflict ensued over the development of the Upper West Side.  The New York Central Railroad had acquired the rights to use the shoreline for its freight and passenger trains and the adamantly refused to remove its tracks. Riverside Park remained cut off from waterfront access for decades. Wealthy New Yorkers’ built luxury homes with Hudson River views while immigrants and their descendents sought decent housing. 
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If you can’t make the event but want to learn more, Dr. Schlichting is the author of Waterfront Manhattan, a book which tells the story he’ll be telling tomorrow.

The event will be free for all. Learn more here.

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Featured images c/o Ryan Vaarsi