It's 400 been years since Henry Hudson set sail for the Dutch to find a passage to the orient. Little did he know he would sail right into the river now bearing his name. Mid-July he made it to the new coast, at what is known as Maine today.
He sailed up the famous river, almost making it to Albany. This is where he struck upon a dead end. He did however say, that it was the most fertile and beautiful land he had ever set foot on.
There was nothing left but to make his way back to his sponsors in the Netherlands. This is where he told the Dutch East Indian Company he did not find the short-cut east.
The quick Dutch entrepreneurial minds saw wealth in his discovery and crossed the pond to flag the territory red, white and royal blue. New Amsterdam was a fact.
To celebrate his discovery the year 2009 is the year of the Hudson.
For more information on the Hudson Year and other events visit the Henry Hudson 400 website.
