Jersey City in Hudson County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Morris Pesin’s Legendary Canoe Trip Which Launched Liberty State Park

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2008

1. Morris Pesin’s Legendary Canoe Trip Which Launched Liberty State Park Marker

Inscription.

Morris Pesin’s Legendary Canoe Trip Which Launched Liberty State Park. . On the foggy, drizzly morning of June 13, 1958, Morris Pesin (1911-1992) made his historic 8 minute canoe trip to the Statue of Liberty with a Jersey Journal reporter to dramatize the close proximity of the Jersey City shoreline to Ms. Liberty. The newspaper story focused public attention on his ideas of public access from New Jersey to the Statue and of an open space family park rising up from the waterfront wasteland of decaying piers and abandoned railroad yards. Morris repeated the canoe trip on October 28, 1961, the Statue’s 75th birthday., Morris Pesin, known as the “father” of Liberty State Park, spent 18 years spearheading the crusade to create this urban state park, which opened in America’s Bicentennial year on June 14, 1976. He then continued to work with other park advocates for 16 years to guide the park’s progress as a free and green park for people of all backgrounds to enjoy, within view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island., A year before his canoe trip, Morris and his wife Ethel had arrived on Liberty Island from his hometown of Jersey City with their two children, after a frustrating three-hour trip which included a Holland Tunnel traffic jam and a long wait in line for the Circle Line ferry in Manhattan. He looked to the west and was struck by two things. One was that the Statue was very close to Jersey City, and the other was that the desolate waterfront was a shameful background for the sacred Ms. Liberty., A few days after the 1958 canoe trip, he stated to the Jersey City Commission (the forerunner of the City Council), “We have here at our doorstep, America’s greatest shrine – the Statue of Liberty – and we have failed to realize its potential.”, The plaque in the nearby Visitor Center reads, “A tribute to Morris Pesin whose imagination, dedication, and perseverance were prime factors in making the dream of Liberty State Park a reality.” In 1985, President Ronald Reagan presented Morris with the Volunteer Action Award at a White House ceremony.

On the foggy, drizzly morning of June 13, 1958, Morris Pesin (1911-1992) made his historic 8 minute canoe trip to the Statue of Liberty with a Jersey Journal reporter to dramatize the close proximity of the Jersey City shoreline to Ms. Liberty. The newspaper story focused public attention on his ideas of public access from New Jersey to the Statue and of an open space family park rising up from the waterfront wasteland of decaying piers and abandoned railroad yards. Morris repeated the canoe trip on October 28, 1961, the Statue’s 75th birthday.

Morris Pesin, known as the “father” of Liberty State Park, spent 18 years spearheading the crusade to create this urban state park, which opened in America’s Bicentennial year on June 14, 1976. He then continued to work with other park advocates for 16 years to guide the park’s progress as a free and green park for people of all backgrounds to enjoy, within view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

A year before his canoe trip, Morris and his wife Ethel had arrived on Liberty Island from his hometown of Jersey City with their two children, after a frustrating three-hour trip which included a Holland Tunnel traffic jam and a long wait in line for the Circle Line ferry in Manhattan. He looked to the west and was struck by two things. One was that the Statue

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was very close to Jersey City, and the other was that the desolate waterfront was a shameful background for the sacred Ms. Liberty.

A few days after the 1958 canoe trip, he stated to the Jersey City Commission (the forerunner of the City Council), “We have here at our doorstep, America’s greatest shrine – the Statue of Liberty – and we have failed to realize its potential.”

The plaque in the nearby Visitor Center reads, “A tribute to Morris Pesin whose imagination, dedication, and perseverance were prime factors in making the dream of Liberty State Park a reality.” In 1985, President Ronald Reagan presented Morris with the Volunteer Action Award at a White House ceremony.

Erected by Liberty State Park.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #40 Ronald Reagan series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 13, 1978.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 40° 41.496′ N, 74° 3.263′ W. Marker was in Jersey City, New Jersey, in Hudson County. It could be reached from Morris Pesin Drive, on the

Marker in Liberty State Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2008

2. Marker in Liberty State Park

The proximity of Liberty Island to the Jersey City waterfront can be appreciated in this photo.

right when traveling east. This marker has been replaced with a different, yet very similar wayside. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 402 Morris Pesin Dr, Jersey City NJ 07305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in New Jersey’s North Jersey,

in Greater Newark,

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Liberation (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Black Tom Explosion (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Salt Marsh (approx. 0.4 miles away); Inside the Statue (approx. 0.4 miles away in New York); Symbolism (approx. 0.4 miles away in New York); Statue Facts (approx. 0.4 miles away in New York); “Mother of Exiles” (approx. 0.4 miles away in New York); Emma Lazarus (approx. 0.4 miles away in New York). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jersey City.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Explosion at Liberty! (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. The right of the marker contains a photograph of Morris Pesin rowing his canoe toward the Statue of Liberty. It has a caption of "On his second canoe trip, Morris (on the right) brought a wreath on behalf of Jersey City for Ms. Liberty’s 75th birthday on October 28, 1961."

Also see . . . Liberty State Park, Historic Gateway to America. New Jersey Division of Parks & Forestry website. (Submitted on November 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Jersey City Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 3, 2008

3. Jersey City Marker

Marker is located on Liberty Walk, which travels from the Statue of Liberty to the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in Liberty State Park.

Lady Liberty Watches the Enterprise image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, June 6, 2012

4. Lady Liberty Watches the Enterprise

The Statue of Liberty is seen here watching over the Space Shuttle Enterprise (seen at right) as it is transported to the Hudson River.

Morris Pesin’s Legendary Canoe Trip & the Launch of Liberty State Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, September 15, 2017

5. Morris Pesin’s Legendary Canoe Trip & the Launch of Liberty State Park Marker

The original marker has been replaced by this newer version which apparently does not merit a separate entry.

Morris Pesin’s Legendary Canoe Trip & the Launch of Liberty State Park Marker site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, September 15, 2017

6. Morris Pesin’s Legendary Canoe Trip & the Launch of Liberty State Park Marker site

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 4,129 times since then and 81 times this year. Last updated on November 15, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on June 7, 2012, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5, 6. submitted on November 27, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.