ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – We look back at a historic moment in Hudson River and Rockland County maritime history — the final run of the PS Alexander Hamilton on September 6, 1971, as it passed beneath the iconic Tappan Zee Bridge.

The PS Alexander Hamilton, a proud steamer of the famed Hudson River Day Line, was launched in 1924 and served as a symbol of elegance and innovation in passenger river travel for nearly five decades. Named after Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, the vessel was a beloved fixture on the Hudson River, offering scenic cruises and daily service to generations of New Yorkers and tourists.

After 47 years of service, the steamer made its last journey in 1971 — a moment now etched in local history and captured in a rare photograph by John Vomvoris. The photo shows the graceful ship steaming along the Hudson one last time, a poignant image for riverboat enthusiasts and historians alike.

In recognition of its cultural and historical significance, the PS Alexander Hamilton was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 1977. Though it no longer sails, its legacy lives on as a cherished piece of Hudson River maritime heritage.

Do you remember Friendly’s located on Main Street in New City/Town of Clarkstown?

Photo by Andy Gallina