Crossing Waters A Documentary Film Screening

Crossing Waters examines America’s attitude toward immigrants, yesterday and today, with a focus on one immigrant neighborhood in upstate New York. The Irish residents of Poughkeepsie’s first ward suffered gravely when the country’s first nativist leader and celebrity, Samuel Morse, moved into the community. Morse, now remembered as the inventor of the telegraph, polarized America and drove it to violence. Crossing Waters draws a parallel between the attitudes of today’s extremists and America’s harsh reaction to immigrants of the 1800s and early 1900s.

Producer, Director, and Co-editor Jane Watson will be available for a Q&A after the 40-minute film.

Co-sponsored by the Historic Preservation and Urban Design programs, as part of Columbia GSAPP’s Hudson Valley Initiative.