In 1609, Captain Henry Hudson's Voyage of Discovery on board the original Halve Maen led to the establishment of New Netherland, a geographically vast Dutch colony that stretched from Delaware Bay, through the Hudson River, and on to the Connecticut River. The Dutch called the Delaware River the South River; the Hudson was known as the North River, and the Connecticut was the Fresh River.
Although the original Half Moon never visited the Fresh River, we on the Replica Ship Half Moon enjoy re-exploring the Three Rivers of New Netherland. In association with Goodwin College of East Hartford, Connecticut, and sponsored by Pratt & Whitney, we have returned to the Connecticut River to introduce a new group of area middle school students to our discoveries as well. Join us as our student crew learns about history and the natural world all around them.
The Daily Log is our way of letting you know each day's events.
Stop by the Crew pages to meet our student sailors, as well as the rest of the crew of the Half Moon.
The Learning Page is where we post information about our scientific studies.
Visit the Related Programs pages to see the other activities included in our expedition up the Connecticut River, including logs for our transit voyages between the Connecticut and the Hudson.
Latest Update (7/26): We're taking a short break from updating while the Half Moon crew is giving tours in Hudson, NY this weekend. We'll resume with the remaining updates next week.
Media Updates (external links):
July 3rd: Click here to watch a WTNH News 8 report on our departure from New London.
July 17th: The Hartford Courant has published a letter to the editor, "Impressed with Young Guides," about our Voyage of Discovery alumni. Read it here.
July 18th: Click here for a blog entry that includes a large photo of the Half Moon passing Glastonbury.
July 19th: Connecticut NBC 30 aired an item on the Half Moon's departure from Goodwin Collge; we'll let you know if we find a clip.
The 2009 Fresh River Voyage of Discovery is made possible through a partnership with Pratt & Whitney. Other sponsors include American Eagle Federal Credit Union, Clear Channel, FIP Construction, First New England Federal Credit Union, Fox 61, and The Hartford Courant.
For information about our ship, including our past Voyages of Discovery, please visit the rest of the Half Moon web site.
If you'd like to reach us on board, click here to e-mail the ship, or click here to contact the webmaster directly. Due to our relatively limited web access on the water, please keep messages brief, and ask first before sending large attached images. That said, if you snap a photo of us heading up the Connecticut River, the ship's chronicler would love to see it and might even add it to the log!
