Even ice is going green with the introduction of some environmentally friendly inventions at the third annual Knickerbocker Ice Festival, held last month. Ice was king in the 1840s, when the Knickerbocker Ice Company was the largest ice house in America. To honor those days, the Hudson Valley, NY community came together and remembered the uniquely American story behind the festival of ice and sights.

In 1609, Henry Hudson discovered the Hudson River and, 400 years later, the state still celebrates his journey. Other, possibly warmer, parts of the country may honor the men of the past with a barbeque or maybe a nice party indoors. But the star sculptors of the weekend headed to Rockland Lake to honor Hudson and the historic ice industry in an original way: with environmental art.

Chainsaws were their paintbrushes. They used them to turn big blocks of rock solid ice into sculptures of lake angels and a 20-foot ice replica of Hudson’s ship, the Half-Moon, and another replica of the historic Knickerbocker Ice House number three. More recognizable state icons, like the “I Love NY” logo, were shaped out of a slab with power tools. Even real photographs of ice harvesters, hard at work in the 19th century, were frozen and encased inside blocks of ice, like big picture frames.

Every masterpiece that wasn’t sold off in a silent auction was left in one piece to be admired. How were the ice sculptures considered environmental art? It was recycled the old-fashioned way: by melting. Since everyone can’t show their appreciation for history as a chainsaw-wielding artist, the guests recognized history by respecting the Rockland Lake Park and the Hudson River while taking advantage of conservation.

They also embraced what they hope to be another 400 years with the Knickerbocker Ice Festival by giving back to the environment. The lights underneath the beautiful ice sculptures were powered by solar energy. Biodegradable bowls, cups and spoons made of potato starch and sugar cane were given to the festival guests when they wanted chili and soup to battle the freezing 20 degree cold.

“I studied every angle I could to see, how could we be as responsible as possible and serve as models to those coming to the festival,” said Tim Englert, the development specialist for the Palisades Interstate Park Commission in a story for The Journal News. Englert also oversees Rockland Lake, so being environmentally friendly to the area was key.

While the Knickerbocker Ice Festival and its celebration has officially ended and the artistic sculptures have most likely evaporated by now, the history behind the event lives on and it will be honored in ice again next year.