Tag Archives: Erie Canal

history, Recreation, State History

Reflections on the Erie Canal During its Bicentennial Year

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The history and impact of the Erie Canal stretches back over 200 years, across more than 300 miles, and millions of lives. It is complicated, it is messy, it is multidimensional. You can become fascinated by it through the economics, the politics, the engineering, the social and cultural changes, the environmental impact, music, folktales, art, or a general love of history. Like the canal itself, history is a ribbon that connects us, for all the good and the bad.

The Seneca Chief prepares to depart from Buffalo to replicate the inaugural journey on the Erie Canal. Photo courtesy of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site.

The capstone of the revitalization of the Erie Canal during its Bicentennial is the inspiring journey of a replica canal barge. Buffalo Maritime Center enlisted the help of volunteers, donations and corporate sponsors to create a new version of The Seneca Chief. The original barge made the inaugural journey on the entirety of the canal in October of 1825, carrying Governor DeWitt Clinton and a keg of Lake Erie water. The replica Seneca Chief is on a similar journey in its path across New York State, but on a far larger, more complex journey through history.

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history, Recreation, State History

Celebrating 200 Years Along the Erie Canal

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In 2025, New York State commemorates the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo. This event was transformative for both the state and the nation, linking the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in an unprecedentedly efficient waterway. During the bicentennial, we are offered an opportunity to reflect on two centuries of rich and complex history and discover how that period’s impacts allow us to explore and enjoy the Canal today.

Aerial of Lock Canal 6 park as part of the Flight of Locks in Waterford, NY. Photo credit: NYPA/Canal Corp. (Philip Kamrass/ New York Power Authority).
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Recreation, safety

Happy Trails: Empire State Trail Itineraries and Safety Tips for Fall

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From New York City through the Hudson River and Champlain Valley up to Canada, and from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, New York State’s 750-mile Empire State Trail is the longest single-state multi-use trail in the United States. Weaving in and out of village main streets, urban centers, and rural communities across the state, the Empire State Trail provides a safe and scenic pathway for residents and tourists to experience New York’s varied iconic landscapes, rich history and diverse recreational offerings one mile at a time. 

The Empire State Trail (EST) is open year-round, including winter, welcoming bicyclists, walkers, cross-county skiers and snowshoers of all ages and abilities. This jewel of the New York State Parks system connects 20 regional trails to create a continuous statewide signed route –75 percent of which is off-road on a mix of gravel and paved paths. 

In this second installment of our Empire State Trail itineraries series, we invite you to explore the Finger Lakes, Northern New York, and New York City.  We’ll see you out there! 

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