Located on the historic Rondout waterfront, the Hudson River Maritime Museum was established in 1979 and is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and related industries. The museum's collections include historic vessels, objects, archival material and art related to Hudson River transportation, industries and recreation such as paintings, prints, photographs, ephemera, blueprints, artifacts, ship models, a 100-year old shad boat, life boats, lighthouse tender and ice yachts. The maritime heritage of the Hudson River encompasses industries such as ice harvesting, brick making, boat building, blue stone quarrying, cement making, coal transport, and crushed stone. The steam era of transportation, which stimulated the growth of these various industries on the Hudson River, is emphasized, and the 19th and 20th centuries are the primary time periods interpreted. The Hudson River Maritime Museum shares its knowledge, research, and collections through public events, lectures, education programs and activities, exhibitions, and publications.