The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the launch of the trailer and a crowdfunding campaign to complete the new documentary film “Seven Sentinels: Lighthouses of the Hudson River.”

Of the dozens of lighthouses and lights that once dotted the Hudson River, only seven remain. This iconic American river, at the heart of the rise of New York City and westward expansion into the interior of the continent, was also a transportation super highway long before automobiles were invented. Throughout it all, the lighthouses kept watch, guarding the safety of the Hudson’s waterborne traffic.

But no comprehensive history of these lighthouses exists. Until now.

The idea for this film has grown out of decades of Hudson River lighthouse interpretation, including research, exhibits, articles, short films, presentations, and the book.

Together with filmmaker Jeff Mertz of Moonbow Imaging, the Hudson River Maritime Museum is creating a feature-length documentary film: “Seven Sentinels: Lighthouses of the Hudson River.” This beautifully shot film will place the lighthouses in historic context, tell the fascinating stories of the buildings themselves and their keepers, and outline how these seven have survived to the present day, and how to preserve them for generations to come.

The museum and Mertz spent part of 2020 and most of 2021 partnering with lighthouse organizations, historians, and historic preservationists to record interviews and get footage of the interior and exterior of all seven of the Hudson River Lighthouses: Hudson-Athens, Saugerties, Rondout, Esopus Meadows, Stony Point, Sleepy Hollow, and Jeffrey’s Hook (a.k.a. the “Little Red Lighthouse”).

Those interested in learning more about the film, each of the lighthouse organizations, and how to donate can visit www.hudsonriverlighthouses.org. Supporters through Indiegogo can receive perks like DVDs, signed Hudson River Lighthouses books, lighthouse tours, supporters-only film screenings, credits, and more.

The museum has already received partial support from Ulster Savings Bank, Rondout Savings Bank, and the County of Ulster’s Ulster County Cultural Services & Promotion Fund administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.
The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related communities. In addition to extensive collections documenting maritime transportation, industry, recreation, and natural science, the museum offers classes and programs at its Wooden Boat School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard its floating classroom, Solaris. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit hrmm.org for more information.