Come visit the historic 1914 Lehigh Valley Barge No. 79 in Red Hook, a floating museum & showboat housed aboard the last remaining covered wooden barge that has been lovingly restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Discover the history of the Tug and Barge “Lighterage Era” (1860-1960) and how food and commercial goods were transported prior to today’s bridges and tunnels.

The Lehigh Valley No. 79, is a typical unaltered example of the wooden barge construction used from the 1860's to the 1970's in the Port of New York for the railroad lighterage system. The importance of this system to the successful operation of the Port during this period cannot be overemphasized. Thirteen railroads served the Port and almost all had terminal facilities on the New Jersey shoreline. Because of the lack of railroad tunnels and bridges, goods to be consumed in New York City and cargo to be loaded upon vessels for shipment overseas, first had to be transported by water across the Hudson River. To perform this function various railroad companies maintained large fleets of barges and tugs to move them. The Lehigh Valley Railroad had over five hundred barges of which about 100 had a covered barnlike structure like Barge 79 to keep cargo like grains, coffee and flour dry and protected. Containerization (1956 to present) made these railroad barges obsolete.

Family Friendly: Visit during OHNY Weekend to experience the exciting story of the rescue of Barge #79 by a clown and juggler and enjoy the captain’s “Serious Foolishness.” Kids love the audio-kinetic ball machine sculpture by Artist George Rhodes that continuously whirls, goes loop-the-loop, plays musical boxes and bounces in mid-air to ring a bell.

No pets permitted.

Children are welcome accompanied by an adult.