of the Erie Canal
Photo courtesy of Fairport Canal Days
Fairport Canal Days , June 2-4 in Fairport , is one of the most popular arts festivals in New York State , attracting nearly a quarter million visitors annually . More than 200 vendors display their crafts and wares against a backdrop of good food , great music and family fun . fairportcanaldays . com
Photos courtesy of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor , www . eriecanalway . org
The Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse , housed in the 1850 Syracuse Weighlock Building -- the only structure of its kind in the world -- features a full-size canal boat , hand-on-interactive exhibits , vignettes about life along the canal , a special exhibits gallery and the outdoor Locktender ’ s Garden . eriecanalmuseum . org
Historic Palmyra , once known as the “ Queen of Erie Canal towns ” is now known for its complex of five museums , including an authentic canal-era general store and the largest collection of American hand woven coverlets — that illuminate life in early canal days and for its historic “ ghost walks .” historicpalmyrany . com
Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum is the only recovered historic dry dock in New York State along the Erie Canal with recreated historical buildings , demonstrations and other programming meant to preserve and interpret boat building and repair history , as well as the social and industrial history of the Erie Canal era . chittenangolanding . com
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site ( Fort Hunter ) is the only remaining site with visible remnants of all three eras of Erie Canal development , including a two-mile long segment of the original Old “ Clinton ’ s Ditch ” Erie Canal , an Old Erie Canal guard lock , the original Old Erie Canal “ Empire ” Lock No . 20 and the locks from the enlarged Erie Canal . It is an excellent starting point from which to kayak the Schoharie Creek and Mohawk River , hike the Towpath Trails or enjoy a ride on the Erie Canalway Bicycle Trail . parks . ny . gov / historic-sites / 27 / details . aspx
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