The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library has been awarded three grants for its project, Champlain Canal Stories, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the opening of the canal: $29,550 from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, in partnership with NEIWPCC, using funds awarded by the National Park Service, $11,950 from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, and $2,500 from the Capital District Library Council. [Read more…] about Champlain Canal Stories Receives Funding
Champlain Canal
New York State Canals Bicentennial: Some History & Plans For Celebrations
The Champlain Canal turns 200 this year and the Erie Canal will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2025.
The Champlain Canal between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain at Whitehall was the first to open. Worked started on the Champlain Canal in October, 1816. The first boats operated in November, 1819, and was fully completed in 1823, two years before the Erie Canal was finished. [Read more…] about New York State Canals Bicentennial: Some History & Plans For Celebrations
NYS Canal System Announces Fall Hours of Operation
Effective Thursday, September 15th, 2022, all locks and lift bridges on the NYS Canal System will operate daily between 7 am and 5 pm. The system is scheduled to close to navigation at 5 pm on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022. [Read more…] about NYS Canal System Announces Fall Hours of Operation
Champlain Canal Region Visitors Center Opening
The Historic Hudson Hoosic Rivers Partnership has announced the Champlain Canal Region Gateway Visitors Center (GVC), located at 30 Ferry Street, Schuylerville, is set to open on Saturday, August 6th at 10 am. [Read more…] about Champlain Canal Region Visitors Center Opening
Canalway Water Trail Added to National Recreational Trails System
In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, The New York State Canal System, including the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca canals, is getting special recognition from the U.S. Department of the Interior as one of the nation’s newly designated National Water Trails. [Read more…] about Canalway Water Trail Added to National Recreational Trails System
Study Calls For Champlain Canal Barrier To Control Invasive Species
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and the non-Federal sponsor, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) have announced the completion of the Champlain Canal Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Barrier Phase 1 Study and the recommendation that a barrier be installed to limit the movement of invasive species into Lake Champlain. [Read more…] about Study Calls For Champlain Canal Barrier To Control Invasive Species
New York State Canal System Opens May 20th
The NYS Canal System is scheduled to open on Friday, May 20th at 7 am for the 2022 navigation season.
Standard hours of operation will be 7 am to 5 pm until October 12th, but busier locks and lift bridges will be open on demand until 10 pm. If adjustments to the schedule are necessary, the public will be notified accordingly. There are no tolls or fees for recreational use of the Canal system this year. [Read more…] about New York State Canal System Opens May 20th
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Reauthorized to 2037
As part of the bipartisan omnibus spending package signed by President Joe Biden on March 15, 2022 the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission was reauthorized to 2037.
The Commission manages the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which was established by Congress in 2000. The Corridor spans 524 miles across the full expanse of the upstate New York. It includes the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain Canals and their historic alignments. The Corridor encompasses 4,834 square miles in 23 counties and is home to 3.2 million people. [Read more…] about Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Reauthorized to 2037
Replica Canal Schooner Lois McClure Being Retired, Dismantled
In October 2023, after 20 years of service, the replica sailing canal schooner Lois McClure will be retired, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum announced today. The original Lois McClure was built in 1862.
The replica was initiated in 2001 and launched in 2004 with the goal of better understanding the region’s unique nineteenth century sailing canal schooners, which allowed travel on the region’s narrow canals and sailing on open waters.
Since it’s launch the replica schooner toured the region bringing this history to local communities around Lake Champlain and connecting waterways. [Read more…] about Replica Canal Schooner Lois McClure Being Retired, Dismantled
1890 Hikers: Albany to Lake George and Back
The following 
letter was original published in the trade magazine American Stationer on May 1st, 1890.
To the Editor of The Stationer
As the heated term of the year draws near I presume that any number of stationer clerks [stationary store clerks] are asking themselves as to how, when and where they shall spend their vacations. I want to give them a bit of advice regarding a summer outing. [Read more…] about 1890 Hikers: Albany to Lake George and Back