New York Harbor Timeline of Events

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New York Harbor

New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental, commercial, and ecological usages...

Timeline of Events

1776

9.7.1776

World's first submarine attack: the American submersible craft ''Turtle'' attempts to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe's flagship HMS ''Eagle'' in New York Harbor.

1810

9.8.1810

The ''Tonquin'' sets sail from New York Harbor with 33 employees of John Jacob Astor's newly created Pacific Fur Company on board. After a six-month journey around the tip of South America, the ship arrives at the mouth of the Columbia River and Astor's men establish the fur-trading town of Astoria, Oregon.

1849

2.28.1849

Regular steamboat service from the west to the east coast of the United States begins with the arrival of the SS ''California'' in San Francisco Bay, 4 months 22 days after leaving New York Harbor.

1884

8.5.1884

The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island) in New York Harbor.

1886

10.28.1886

In New York Harbor, President Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty.

1986

10.28.1986

The centenary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty is celebrated in New York Harbor.