From Ferncliff to the Galapagos Islands!
Philanthropist Vincent Astor (1891-1959) made a lasting impact on Rhinebeck history, yet his passion for natural history and impact on the The Zoological Society of New York, Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and New York Aquarium may not be as well known.
In 1930, Vincent Astor (third from left), Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Teddy Roosevelt, and natural historians brought eight of these rare tortoises to New York museums.
The group sailed aboard Astor’s luxurious 1928 yacht Nourmahal (below left) and returned with a menagerie of wildlife. The observations and specimens were delivered to researchers and promoted continued study and conservation efforts.
On March 3, 1942, the Navy secured the Nourmahal for the Coast Guard.
My latest gem From the Archives is this must view and read article “The Astor Expedition to the Galapagos Islands” By Charles Haskins Townsend in the Bulletin New York Zoological Society Vol. XXXIII, No. 4 July-August 1930.
If you want to read more from the Director of the Aquarium Charles Haskins Townsend, “Gregory and the Scuttle” is the story of how the octopus came to the Aquarium.
Appointed Commodore of the New York Yacht Club in 1928, Commodore Astor was a leader on land and sea. Discover more about the Astor family and their impact on Rhinebeck history in the Archives. You can explore over 800 Astor scans. Some of my favorites are in the Astor Maps Collection.
Happy Researching. See you in December!
From the Archives,
Researcher Bonnie Wood
November 2024