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February - March 2018
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This historic lock in Port Byron is accessible right off the New York State
Thruway, a first-of-its-kind exhibit in the state. Motorists can stop, enjoy
the visitors center and canal exhibits, and then conveniently re-enter I-90,
all without passing through any toll booths.
transportation systems. Hudson
Valley residents and boaters are
close to an amazingly complex
and interesting system which
is often overlooked on canal
journeys – if you take the time to
plan and explore it!
Central New York is home
to a large section of unused,
“enlarged” Erie Canal that was
bypassed when the Barge Canal
was built, and so there are many
structures still standing that have
been preserved either as artifacts
or in some cases restored to
demonstrate their functionality.
The Erie Canal Museum in
Syracuse, for example, was
once located on the Canal but
now is several miles south of the
current waterway. A preserved
drydock and other buildings
in Canastota or the amazingly
well-maintained (and working!!!)
aqueduct in Camillus are must-
sees, well worth a taxi ride from
the closest Erie Canal Lock
or park. Statewide, there are
preserved structures close to the New York State Thruway
(such as the rest area in Montgomery County or Historic Lock
52 in Port Byron) and along the Canal (Historic Lock 19 in
Vischer Ferry, Historic Locks 21/22 at the Schenectady Yacht
Club, or the flights of old locks in Waterford and Lockport,
the preserved factory in Seneca Falls destined to become the
National Women’s Hall of Fame or aqueducts such as the
Visitors of all ages enjoy
canalside festivals. Here
is the view alongside the
Waterford harborfront
during an event.