Living History in Verplanck's Back Yard

The Half Moon replica ship sat in the Hudson River as eagles soared overhead and ice flows drifted by on a freezing but sunny winter afternoon. The replica ship of Henry Hudson's original Half Moon exploration ship from 1609 has docked at the King Marine in Verplanck every winter for the last 12 years.

"I love history and I love ships," said Randy King, the marine owner.

Every year, King allows the ship's Captain Chip Reynold's to dock the piece of living history at his marine for free for about four months and maintains water heaters to keep the her from freezing in place. Occasionally, Captain Reynolds visits from Albany to check on his pride and joy or bring visitors to see her. The ship is one of only two such replicas in the world.

On Jan. 24, Captain Reynold's hosted filmmakers from the Netherlands who were visitng the Half Moon in consideration of using her for a documentary about Dutch explorers.

"It will be a story about discovering the new world that has never been done before," said Erwin Godschalk, the film's producer. Godschalk said the crew should begin filming in May and release the documentary in December. The Half Moon will be needed for about five to ten days of shooting.

Crew member Paulie "Dangerously," as he called himself, and the captain, gave the group of five Dutchmen a tour of the ship, pointing out the details that make it an as authentic as possible, as well as the hidden elements of modernity needed to sail it safely in the 21st Century.

When the ship is under way Captain Reynolds uses a crew of volunteers to sail her. He also runs an educational program in partnership with New York State certified educators that integrates history, math, science and writing for fourth and seventh graders who can embark on a one-week voyage.

Watch the video to learn more about the ship and the programs run through the New Netherland Museum, which is the non-profit, educational institution that owns and operates the ship as a traveling museum dedicated to pubc education about the life in New Netherland during the 17th Century. Reynolds is the director of the museum.

King invites residents of the community to come by the King Marine at 270 6th St., Verplanck, any time to visit the Half Moon. You can reach him at 914-739-3413. The ship will be docked until late March or early April.

For more information visit www.halfmoonreplica.org.