Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston NY

We visited this great museum because we read somewhere that they had a lighthouse tour and decided to sign up. If you arrive by car, there’s parking right outside, but you have to pay for it at a meter. Across the road there's some free parking. The lighthouse tour goes from a landing stage at the back of the museum. It’s worth visiting the museum restrooms before you set off, since there are no toilets en route. The trip out takes just a few minutes on a solar-powered boat. The lighthouse itself is fascinating and we were lucky enough to have an excellent docent tour guide show us around. The building has been left as it was when it was last occupied; so it's very atmospheric, if a little spidery. At the top of the building a small ladder leads up to the lantern, which now houses automated lights which are also solar-powered. The tour price ($25 for adults and $20 for kids) includes entry to the museum itself, and the exhibits give a comprehensive history of the Hudson and New York City; and Kingston’s place in the scheme of things.

For a small upstate museum, this place rocks. Kids enjoyed it. There were a lot of interactive things from rubber fish throwing, to bell ringing to ship steering. There was a great topographical map (3D) of NY state and there were many other unexpectedly high-quality things. Happy to have this place in my area.

If you have any Iinterest in the history of the Hudson Valley, or more particularly the human use and environment of the river itself, this museum is not to be missed!
And the associated Riverport Wooden Boat School gives adult classes in basic to advanced woodworking, classes where you can go home with a canoe you built yourself, and on-water lessons in sailing and other skills. They also have extensive youth programs, from boatbuilding to rowing and sailing. All-in-all a jewel of the Hudson Valley!

Did the guided Lighthouse tour which also includes a boat ride. It was okay and the museum is included as an added extra. Figure $25 per adult. Not too many years ago it was $10 per. It will get pricey for a family of four.

Nice small museum with attractive presentation and good explanation of artifacts. No blockbuster items, but very interesting overall.

I had no idea what would have come from this road trip, but I must same the museum and surrounding areas where beautiful. The boatride up the HUDSON RIVER was amazing.

Liked my visit to this small but interesting museum. I enjoy a nice walk along the water and around the shops in the area.

The whole area is spectacular. Train museum across the way and cute antique shops up and down the main road.

One needs more than one day to absorb all exhibits here. There is material on shipbuilding, commerce, geography, anthropology and history. Some interactive exhibits for the kids. Parking in front by meter (operates by coins of Whoosh app). Clean unisex single-occupant bathroom. Fascinating gift shop, with a memorable volunteer poster at check-in/check-out.

A wonderful and informative experience. I love models of boats and the history of the river trade.

Hudson River Maritime is a gem of history, commerce, culture, geography and engineering! Lovely gift shop (the volunteer cashier is a colorful character!) and impressive scale models throughout the museum. Activities for kids, and video loops about several exhibits. Clean bathroom on-site, and metered parking in front.

This turned out to be a surprise to me. A definite treasure of the Hudson River Valley highlighting every aspect of life on the Hudson through the years.

This is a museum that should not be missed! If you like history of the Hudson River and the Flora and fauna this is the place for you. Well worth the time and admission is very reasonable! Great guideassistants and very friendly staff. A+!

This museum is conveniently located in downtown Kingston. It contains the early maps used by fur traders and early statesmen alike. This area was founded by the Dutch. Kingston's strategic location on the Hudson contributed in our forefathers success in winning The American Revolutionary War. The original Native American Yribe that once inhabited this land were the Pondicherry.

Model ships, steam engines, iceboats, other historical items. Pleasant hour visit. Restaurants nearby.

Wonderful place to learn local history and how it ties in to the development of the whole way coast. People were so nice and very helpful, full of information, and excited about their jobs.

We didn't visit the museum but went there for an antique boat show that was nice. Not many boats there but what was there was very nice.

Great museum to learn all about the Hudson river and Henry Hudson along with interactive displays chronicling life on the river for ship personnel and passengers there is a really nice area where you can sit and it is wood and looks just like you are on a boat and they have a sound machine that makes it sound like u r on a boat very relaxing they also have a nice gift shop

Excellent tourist spot. You can purchase tickets to take a boat ride to a historic light house here. Highly recommended.