In September 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson sailed into what is now New York Harbor aboard the Dutch ship Half Moon. He was searching for a westward passage to Asia on behalf of the Dutch East India Company, but instead found the mouth of a wide river that would later bear his name. Hudson and his crew anchored near the southern tip of the island that would become Manhattan.

Hudson spent the next few days exploring the area and interacting with the Indigenous Lenape people, who had lived on the land for generations. His logs described the region’s deep channels, abundant wildlife, and natural beauty—features that made it an ideal location for trade and future settlement. In the Lenape language, “Manhattan” (or its original form, Manahatta) means “hilly island”. Alternatively, some linguists suggest it could also mean “place where we gather timber for bows and arrows,” reflecting the abundance of hardwood on the island.

Though he never found the route to Asia he was looking for, Hudson’s exploration laid the groundwork for Dutch colonization in the region. Just a few years later, the Dutch established the colony of New Netherland, with Manhattan Island—then known as New Amsterdam—as its capital.

Hudson’s journey marked a turning point in the European presence in the region. The harbor he entered would become one of the most significant in the world, and the island he charted would grow into a global center of commerce and culture. His brief stop in 1609 changed the course of history for Manhattan and beyond.