In the Hudson River 4 miles north of the town of Esopus is the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse. During the 18th century farmers would graze their cattle in an area adjacent to the river known as the ‘meadows’ and over time the locale eroded and was inundated with water, creating a dangerous shallow spot in the river. In the 1800’s ship captains requested that the shallow area be marked with a lighthouse. Once built the lighthouse later became known as the ‘Maid of the Meadows’.