To The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse!
A lighthouse sits in the middle of the Hudson River, seemingly perched on an island of its own. Built in 1874, the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse marks a sandy ridge called Middle Ground Flats and is surrounded by water on all sides. It’s only accessible by boat and only open to the public 4 days per year, so we felt very lucky to climb inside.
From July through October, on the Second Saturday of each month, the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society runs tours of the lighthouse, with Hudson Cruises offering boat rides to transport visitors. The 15-passenger boats leave from Athens Riverfront Park and from Water and Ferry Street in Hudson. We departed from the Athens side of the river.
It’s important to wear comfortable, sturdy shoes, and don’t bring too much that you’ll have to carry up the metal staircase from the dock or the slightly treacherous spiral staircases inside the lighthouse. For instance, you can totally bring a bagged lunch, but I wouldn’t recommend bringing a wiggly toddler!
My 5-year-old was a little nervous on the stairs and asked to be carried. It’s a strange sensation to be on a tiny island in the middle of a rolling river, and while I’m not typically afraid of heights, I did feel a little woozy on top of the lighthouse with my 2 small children. (I had the same sensation at Kaaterskill Falls—maybe I’ve just gone acrophobic in my old age!) That said, there are definitely safety rails to hang onto, and the views from the lighthouse are spectacular.
My 8-year-old history-buff son was enthralled by the docents leading the tour. He was particularly interested in learning about the family of Emil J. Brunner, who was the lightkeeper here from 1930 to 1949. He lived in the lighthouse with his wife and 4 children and retired when the light was automated.
His eldest child, Emily Brunner, once gave light house tours herself, but she recently passed away at the age of 92. She’d share stories about life in the lighthouse, explaining that she and her brothers used to walk on the ice on the river to get to school, bringing along a rowboat in case the ice cracked. Her stories were caught on film, and you can see her tell her tales on a TV screen during the lighthouse tour.
For more of the fascinating history of this picture-perfect place, check out the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society’s website.
For us, the whole trip took an hour. We explored the lighthouse without lingering and took the first available boat back to land. (But if you like, you could bring lunch and eat at a picnic table outside the lighthouse.) Once you’re back in Athens, we highly recommend stopping at Bonfiglio & Bread for baked goods, coffee, and pizza, and/or head across the street to Crossroads Brewing Company’s Athens Brewpub for nachos and beer.
The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, an island of its own in the middle of the Hudson River.
You can reach the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society at lighthouse@hudsonathenslighthouse.org or (518) 828-5294, and you can learn about the Hudson Cruises Lighthouse Tour via their website. Want to visit? From July through October on the second Saturday of each month, boats depart from 2nd Street and Waterfront Park in Athens, and from Water and Ferry Street in Hudson.
