Hudson–Fulton Celebration

The commission, over the course of its long planning period (from 1905 to 1909), established dozens of committees to oversee every detail of the event, from the Celebration's official symbols to the role of New York's children.

The Commission allocated $83,000 from its budget of $934,447 for a total of 107,152 illuminations, including various types of lights and fireworks, installed for the celebration; in addition to the town halls and bridges, these lights also illuminated the Statue of Liberty, Grant's Tomb, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, the Washington Arch, and some museums, like the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.

This massive introduction to the parade's theme depicted "The History of the Empire State", and included, among other things, a canoe and a steamboat, a wigwam and a skyscraper, and the Statue of Liberty.

The Carnival Pageant illustrated the great body of Old World folklore that has inspired so much of the beautiful imagery of the poetry, song and drama of all civilized nations.

It did, however, have a grand title car – a dragon spouting flames and carrying a scroll bearing the theme of the parade – "Music, Literature, and Art".

The final float of the Carnival Parade brought the focus back to America, with a representation of "Uncle Sam Welcoming the Nations", displaying the hospitality and peaceful desires of the United States.

Its messages of continuity, progress, and grandeur were present along with the floats, but it is difficult to evaluate the popular response to these intended lessons.

Additionally, the Celebration's military parade on Manhattan Island showcased American national identity and pride while simultaneously promoting international peace.

The famous RMS Lusitania represented the newest advancement in steamship technology at the time and was likewise put on display in 1909, only six years before it was sunk by German U-boat U-20 in 1915.

The Historical Parade, for example, was a way for the commission to teach the diverse population demographics of New York City—many of whom were recent immigrants – about the history of both the United States and the city in which they now lived.

This organization worked to restore and establish landmarks and parks; these goals would be seen in the Celebration, in the many dedications of monuments which occurred over the course of the festivities.

Its floats displayed the music, art, and literature of the Old World, in an attempt to link New York to London, Paris, and other European metropolises.

History and culture were present in the dozens of museum exhibitions designed specifically for the event to attract tourists from Europe and other parts of the United States.

The elaborate preparations of the commission were not in vain; this last great celebration in New York City was appreciated by millions in 1909, and is a success worth remembering today.