The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, erected in 1874, is a key historical landmark that helped steer ships around the Middle Ground Flats on the Hudson River. Operated by the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society (HALPS), it offers tours on the second Saturdays of July through October. Visitors can tour the eight-room building and learn about its importance in river navigation.
The tour provides educational insights into how the Hudson River influenced local towns’ growth and highlights the lighthouse’s vital role in safe river traffic. Managed by HALPS, which oversees its restoration and upkeep, visitors can see ongoing efforts to preserve this maritime heritage.
In the late 1860s, the dangerous conditions at the Middle Ground Flats opposite the City of Hudson threatened safe navigation on a busy shipping route. After repeated appeals to Congress, a detailed survey was carried out, leading to Congress approving an allocation of $35,000 for the construction of the Hudson City Lighthouse, which is recognized today as the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse.
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