A book arrived in my mail recently, and a glance at the name of the author made me smile.

It was Kathleen Eagen Johnson, the curator for Historic Hudson Valley.

I have worked with Johnson a number of times over the years, perhaps most memorably back in 2004 when I visited Philipsburg Manor with her.

At that time, she shared a fascinating story — which I featured in my Collector’s Notes column — about a set of 18th-century cups and saucers that had come to call the old mill site in Sleepy Hollow home.

When I saw this new book, “The Hudson-Fulton Celebration: New York’s River Festival of 1909 and the Making of a Metropolis,” (Fordham University Press and Historic Hudson Valley, $39.95), I knew it would be quite a travel through history.

And it is — the book is filled with evocative text, vintage photographs and all kinds of memorabilia related to a century-old celebration.

It was in 1909 that some two weeks were devoted to events that commemorated the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the river that since came to bear his name as well as the 100th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s first successful run of the Clermont, his steamship.

This year, as we all know, we are marking the Quadricentennial with all kinds of events throughout the year, up and down the Hudson.

Johnson’s book is a great look back — and makes for a wonderful locally themed gift for anyone on your list (or your own library).

The book was released May 15, and this weekend Johnson will be speaking about both the book and the history of New York’s celebrations (including time for questions and answers).

Catch Johnson at 2 p.m. Sunday at Philipsburg Manor (on Route 9 in Sleepy Hollow).

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and for her to sign.

For more details, click here.