Past Events

Bio
After spending 30+ years as a graphic artist, Hal Taylor is now devoting all of his efforts into combining a love of history with illustration, while struggling with the new found discipline of writing. He began a career as a typographer setting phototype into the wee hours for ad agencies and design studios. Later, he used this experience to teach at Drexel University. His first book, The Illustrated Delaware River: The History of a Great American River, is an illustrated historical travelogue filled with 140 original drawings and paintings following the entire length of the legendary river. His second effort, Before Penn: An Illustrated History of the Delaware River Colonies, 1609-1682, tells the fascinating story of the struggle among the most powerful nations of Europe for control of the Delaware Valley, years before William Penn’s acquisition of Pennsylvania. A third book, Artifacts, is an eye-opening new volume of Delaware Valley history featuring hoagies, hats, highways, bridges, trains, historic trees, dinosaurs, and much more. Hal loves living in historic New Jersey and loves sharing his passion for art and history. Learn more about him at https://www.haltaylorillustration.com/.

Summary
Riegelsville Bridge, connecting Riegelsville, Pa and Pohatcong Township, NJThe Delaware River: An Illustrated History
Hal presented an illustrated travelogue tracing more than 300 miles and 400 years of history about one of America’s most storied rivers. Features included the country’s oldest resort in Cape May, the Delaware Bay and its fabled oyster industry, forts that span the Revolutionary War to WWII, the commercial importance of Burlington, Bordentown, and Trenton, (including the canals and the railroads), along with scenic old river towns including New Hope and Lambertville. On to the era of the Delaware Water Gap grand hotels and the tragic tale of the Tock’s Island fiasco, winding up with a search for the source of the Delaware.

This talk, one in a series, open to the public and free of charge, was sponsored by the Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) about different aspects of the cultural, recreational, and natural heritage of the Delaware River. An environmental nonprofit, DRGP supports the Delaware River Scenic Byway , the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River, the Delaware River Water Trail, and the Delaware River Heritage Trail.

Please enjoy the video of Hal's presentation below.