Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a non-profit organization that works to protect the Hudson River from pollution, has donated a collection of historic hand-painted signs to the New York State Museum. These signs come from four decades of the Great Hudson River Revival, a music and environmental festival founded by Pete Seeger.
Pete Seeger founded the Great Hudson River Revival in 1978 to raise funds to build the sloop Clearwater. The festival became an annual tradition, eventually growing into one of the largest music festivals in the country. Now, events such as the annual Clearwater Folk Picnic and the 2026 Concert Series continue the festival’s impact.
The Great Hudson River Revival sign collection includes over 450 signs and other artifacts. These signs, all hand-painted by volunteers, helped direct visitors through the festival grounds year after year. New York State Museum director Jennifer Saunders reflected, “These signs and artifacts are more than mementos from a beloved festival; they are vivid records of a movement that helped change the way New Yorkers understood and protected the Hudson River.”
By preserving these items, the New York State Museum helps to celebrate the work of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater organization, the history of environmentalism and community on the Hudson River, and of course the music festival itself.
A temporary exhibit at the New York State Museum featuring a selection of the Great Hudson River Revival signs opened on Oct. 10. It will be on display until Apr. 25, 2027, with a larger exhibition planned to open in 2028 or 2029.
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