After holding previous annual meetings in Newport News, Va in 2023 and Staten Island in 2022, the National Maritime Historical Society (NMHS), the only national organization to make Peekskill its headquarters, brings the national annual meeting back home to Peekskill. The 61st annual meeting will be jam-packed all weekend, bringing people to Peekskill and the Hudson Valley from all over the nation and world.
The highlight of annual meeting will be the grand opening and reception of the “Ronald L. Oswald Maritime Library.” Furthering their 33 year history in the City of Peekskill, the NMHS will christen the brand new 5,000 volume maritime library with a ribbon cutting, ceremony and reception. The ceremony and reception will take place on Friday, July 19th at the NMHS headquarters at the Hat Factory in Peekskill at 1000 N. Division Street, Suite #4 from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm. To attend the ceremony and reception, register using this link or call the National Maritime Historical Society at (914) 737-7878 ext. 0.
As part of this education initiative and in partnership with the Westchester Library System and Hendrick Hudson Free Library, the Society has assessed, cataloged, preserved and shelved its 5,000-volume maritime library, making it accessible to the public both online and at its headquarters.
The National Maritime Historical Society Ronald L. Oswald Maritime Library, named after NMHS Chairman Emeritus Ronald Oswald, was made possible by the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program from the National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, administered by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
National Maritime Historical Society history
The National Maritime Historical Society was incorporated in 1963 in Washington D.C. when a small group of maritime enthusiasts in the United States came together determined to save the 1899 merchant ship Kaiulani. Sadly, the Kaiulani sank in the Philippines while the group was trying to raise public awareness and funding. The group recognized a national organization with public support was needed that would not only save future Kaiulanis but would also help preserve the nation’s seafaring heritage.
As a direct result of the effort to save the Kaiulani, the National Maritime Historical Society emerged. In 1970, the National Maritime Historical Society truly took off when Peter Stanford, the founding president of the South Street Seaport Museum and a leader in the Kaiulani effort, was named the society’s president. Since then, the National Maritime Historical Society has been celebrating the sea, raising awareness of our nation’s maritime heritage and the role seafaring has played in shaping civilization. As a symbolic reminder of NMHS’s ship preservation heritage, Kaiuani’s image appears today on its seal, publications, and merchandise.
National Maritime Historical Society in Peekskill
When Peter Stanford became the President of the NMHS in 1970, he moved the organization from Washington, D.C. to the South Street Seaport, and then a defunct fireboat-house and pier in Brooklyn in 1976. Under the leadership of Peter and his wife, Norma, the NMHS relocated to Croton-on-Hudson in 1983, and then to Peekskill in 1991 where it has made its national headquarter home for more than 33 years.
Initially, the NMHS was housed on the banks of the Hudson River at the Charles Point Marina for more than two decades in the old Fleischmann Factory Gin Building. That building also housed the old Crystal Bay Restaurant for many years. A few years ago, the building received a new owner who turned it into The Factoria which now houses Spins Hudson, Fin & Brew, River Outpost Brewing Company, and The Space. The NMHS looked for a new home and found a stunning location in Peekskill at The Hat Factory.
National Maritime Historical Society mission
The NMHS educational agenda includes exploring America’s maritime heritage, advocating first-hand experiences on ships, and encouraging visits to maritime museums. An active participant among maritime institutions, NMHS is a sponsor of the Maritime Heritage Conferences and serves as a member of the Council of American Maritime Museums. The Society was instrumental in establishing the American Society of Marine Artists, the American Ship Trust and the National Maritime Alliance. Locally, the NMHS coordinated the ships that came up the river for the Rockland County bicentennial celebration as well as the Ships and Sails and Peekskill Celebration events for several years.
NMHS produces the quarterly magazine Sea History, the preeminent journal in this field. The magazine, founded by Peter Stanford, is the voice of the National Maritime Historical Society. Sea History gathers stories about naval history, exploration, archaeology, art, sail training, replicas, museums, and everything in between.
The Society’s website contains a crucial resource section in addition to information about events in today’s maritime heritage field, a section for kids and one highlighting maritime careers. The Society’s educational programs include monthly seminars with noted authors, historians, and artists, and special programs for children and resources for scholars of all ages. NMHS also actively supports the production of maritime documentaries and participates in National History Day, encouraging middle and high school students to study maritime history.
In addition to its educational initiatives, NMHS plays a significant role in broadening knowledge about maritime heritage through conferences, partnerships with other maritime organizations, and commemorative celebrations such as the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the upcoming America’s 250th on July 4, 2026. To keep up to date on the NMHS, follow their social media including their Facebook page.
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