I have to admit, younger me was enchanted by the idea of the Erie Canal and the impact that it had upon the settlement of the interior of the country. The Erie Canal, the C&O Canal, and the Ohio Canal Systems are all so fascinating. I was in middle school in Ohio when we learned about the Ohio canals, and the mystery and romance of the Canals always stuck with me. I know the life wasn't easy, but oh, it seemed like it was so unique. When Dad was transferred to Virginia, I made my parents out the the C&O Canal so that I could see the actual working locks in person!
Anyway, back to the Erie Canal -
The original canal way has since been replaced a couple of times. But, an Erie Canal still exists and is used for commerce today.
While we were in New York, we visited several museums dedicated to the Erie Canal and we stopped at a couple of places with public access where we could walk down into the old canal and walk on grass through the old locks. We even drove next to the Canal for a while and watched the traffic moving through the water while we ate lunch.
Sadly, I didn't take any pictures while we were roaming through the canals and museums. But if you follow the links below, you will find pictures on the websites!
The Erie Canal Museum: https://eriecanalmuseum.org/
Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Site: https://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/park-rest-areas/port-byron-old-erie-canal-heritage-park
The Erie Canal Discovery Center: https://niagarahistory.org/visit-the-erie-canal-discovery-center/
National Park Service Erie Canalway: https://eriecanalway.org/learn/history-culture
