Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will be opening their Visitor Center for the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 22nd. Days of operation for exhibit reservations will be Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 3pm. The site grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
In response to the covid-19 pandemic, the following health and safety guidelines will be in effect for the season:
Guided tours of the site grounds will be given on Wednesday through Saturday by advance reservation only. These tours are $2 per person. Grounds Tours will be limited to 10 people.
Access to the exhibit, “Pathway to Empire” is by reservation only. Visitors can call (518) 518-829-7516 during normal business hours to schedule. Exhibit area limited to 6 people.
Masks must be worn by all visitors inside the buildings or when social distance cannot be kept.
Access into the buildings will only be provided by staff. Visitors should arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to their scheduled reservation. Tours will start in front of the Visitor Center. Access to the exhibit will meet at the entrance door.
For information about the historic site, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our Facebook page.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual state parks, historic sites, golf courses, boat launches and recreational trails, which are visited by 71 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor invites New Yorkers to take part in the Canalway Challenge in 2020, tracing history and tracking miles along New York’s canals and Canalway Trail. Part fitness challenge, part journey of discovery, the Canalway Challenge is free and registration is open to people of all ages and abilities.
“Staying healthy is a #1 priority for everyone right now. The Canalway Challenge is a great way for people to get outside and invest in mental and physical health, while exploring the canals in their local area,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Participants register online and choose a mileage goal of 15, 90, 180, or 360 miles; then walk, run or cycle on the Canalway Trail or paddle safe sections of the NYS Canal System to achieve it. The Canalway Challenge can be done in one big trip or many small ones.
This year’s Challenge runs through the end of October, so people have plenty of time to complete it.
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “Set alongside our state’s iconic canals, the Canalway Challenge offers participants an opportunity to enjoy the bucolic landscapes of Upstate New York, exercising their minds and bodies, while also practicing safe social distancing.”
Families are encouraged to use the Canalway Challenge to supplement home-based learning about New York State history. Educational worksheets and learning resources are available from the National Heritage Corridor to complement what children will see while on the trail.
Participants in last year’s Canalway Challenge logged 285,000 miles, the equivalent of circling the Earth 11 times.
Participants should follow all New York State Department of Health guidelines for social distancing, wearing a mask and proper hygiene while on the Canalway Trail and while visiting state parks, historic sites, and communities along the way. Updates are posted https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-pause.
ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY Nearly 200 years after its construction, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves our extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and fosters vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. We achieve our mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York. http://www.eriecanalway.org/
While you are limited to outdoor activities, we thought we would share something exciting that you can take part in with proper social distancing.
Did you know we have a NEW “TravelStorys App” that provides free GPS guided tours that share the stories of Montgomery County??
Take a walk, ride a bike, drive in the car, or listen from home. You can practice social distancing AND get a history lesson of the county.
The Montgomery County Tourism department of the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with economic development and the Department of History and Archives, launched the TravelStorys audio tour in the Fall that allows listeners to hear the historic stories of Montgomery County while traveling the Erie Canalway Trail throughout the county.
The Cycling the Erie Canal: A Path Through History audio tour is available through the free TravelStorys app (available for download on smartphones). TravelStorys brings the little-known stories about the land to life, and by using GPS technology, stories on the tours automatically play as listeners pass through each site.
The Montgomery County TravelStorys Audio Tour invites visitors to interact with the region in a deeper way, and to experience the Erie Canalway Trail in a new way. To download TravelStorys and take the tour, visit Google Play or the Apple Store.
And if you do venture out that way and are looking to support the local restaurants with takeout, checkout our pinned post on this page for a full listing of restaurants.
WATERFORD, NY- As the NYS Canal System gets set to open on May 19, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has released nine new itineraries to lead people to great places and experiences along the Erie and Champlain Canals. The itineraries showcase some of the best historic sites, national and state parks, museums, and recreational experiences and are suited for weekend and day trips. Suggestions for cycling, hiking, paddling, and canal tours, as well as nearby places to eat or picnic are also included.
“As we celebrate the bicentennial of Erie Canal construction in 1817, we hope these itineraries will entice people to enjoy the canal today and learn about its lasting impact on New York State and the Nation,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Strong collaboration among national, state, and local partners made this project possible. Erie Canalway itineraries were funded with support from the National Park Service and Empire State Development’s Market NY program, part of the State’s Regional Economic Development Council awards. Each one features a national or state park along with nearby historic sites and canal recreation experiences.
Gavin Landry, Executive Director of Tourism for Empire State Development said, “We are proud to support the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor as we celebrate and promote the bicentennial of the Erie Canal this summer. These new itineraries will introduce travelers to some of Upstate New York’s best destinations, which will further bolster statewide tourism and the economic boost visitors bring to local businesses.”
“Whether it’s your first time on the Erie Canal or you’ve spent a lifetime enjoying this iconic waterway, these itineraries have something for everyone,” saidNew York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton. “They are a great way to discover the rich history of the region and learn more about how the Erie Canal transformed the nation.”
Erie Canalway Itineraries INCLUDE:
Western New York
Go Where the Buffalonians Roam (Buffalo)
Experience the Power of Water (Niagara Falls and Lockport)
Follow America’s Destiny (Stillwater to Schuylerville)
The NYS Canal System is a NationalHistoric Landmark (opens in a new tab) that includes the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning more than 500 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes, and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique and historic communities. The 365-mile Erie Canalway Trail (opens in a new tab) is a multi-use trail from Albany to Buffalo, much of it along the canal’s former towpath. Together the canals and trail create a world-class recreationway that is a vibrant, scenic and unique New York resource.
ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves our extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and fosters vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. It achieves its mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York. www.eriecanalway.org (opens in a new tab)
Your journey begins in Canajoharie (Exit 29 off the New York State Thruway) at the Van Alstyne Homestead (opens in a new tab) . According to family tradition, the original structure was built by Martin Van Alstyne as early as 1729. By 1765 son Goshen Van Alstyne had converted and expanded the house to a colonial tavern. The tavern became a frequent meeting place of the Tryon County Committee of Safety and is the place where Nicholas Herkimer received his commission as General of the Tryon County Militia.
Continue your travels west on State Highway 5S to Fort Plain. The Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park (opens in a new tab) is the site of the original Fort Plain also known as Fort Rensselaer. The construction of Fort Plain began in the late fall of 1778 after the Cherry Valley Massacre convinced locals of the need for a haven in the event of enemy attack. By 1781 the fort had become an important Continental Army Depot for the western Mohawk Frontier and was inspected by General Washington in August of 1783.
Also located in Fort Plain is the Isaac Paris House (opens in a new tab) . In 1777 Isaac Paris, Sr. was killed at the Battle if Oriskany making Isaac Paris, Jr. sole owner of the Paris holdings. Paris was an accomplished businessman who served as the business representative for Washington’s major general, the famed Baron de Steuben, a regular guest at the house and nearby Fort Plain.
From Fort Plain, cross the Mohawk River to Nelliston following Hickory Hill Road to the historic farming community of Stone Arabia. Visit the Stone Arabia Dutch Church (opens in a new tab) burned by the British in October of 1780 during the Battle of Stone Arabia. It was rebuilt in 1788 and has remained unchanged since. The cemetery behind the church is the final resting place of Patriot leader Colonel John Brown of the Berkshire Massachusetts Militia killed in the battle on October 19th. Historic marker signs along Route 10 mark the locations of engagements and forts involved in the battle.
Continue westward, following the old Stone Arabia Road, to the Palatine Church (opens in a new tab) of “Drums Along the Mohawk” fame. The historic church was erected in 1770 and is the oldest church standing in Montgomery County. It was built by German Palatine settlers who originally migrated to America from the Palatine region of Germany in 1710.
Next is Fort Klock (opens in a new tab) , a fortified homestead built circa 1750 by Johannes Klock, a German Palatine who came to the area with the great Palatine migration. On October 19, 1780, the Battle of Klock’s Field was fought just west-northwest of the fort.
Located less than a mile west of Fort Klock is the 1747 Nellis Tavern (opens in a new tab) , an historic inn and tavern. Built by Christian Nellis, Sr., as a farmhouse, was expanded to its present form about 1800 with the construction of the Mohawk Turnpike. The original timber-frame clapboard structure survived the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
St. Johnsville is also the home of the Margaret Reaney Memorial Library (opens in a new tab) which houses a collection of fine art, sculpture, and historically important memorabilia. Spanning many years, from pre-Revolutionary to present time, the exhibits reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Mohawk Valley.
The Montgomery County Anti-Slavery Society was organized at the Presbyterian church (now the Calvary Reformed Church) in Hagaman in 1836. This was the county’s first official stance against the institution of slavery. Many local abolitionists were instrumental in organizing this society. A marker is placed outside of the church signifying its importance in the anti-slavery movement.
Green Hill Cemetery in Amsterdam – Self-guided Walking Tour
23 Cornell Street, Amsterdam
Abolitionism and African American Life in Amsterdam (opens in a new tab) : Amsterdam, referred to by some as “the abolition hole,” was a hotbed of activity in the anti-slavery movement that swept the country in the years leading up to the Civil War. Many of the local prominent residents participated in the cause to assist those seeking a life of freedom. The area’s black residents also participated in the fight to end slavery with the Civil War. A number of those participants, black and white, have their final resting place here at Green Hill Cemetery.
Canajoharie – Self-guided Walking Tour
Begin on Cliff Street, Canajoharie
The walking tour (opens in a new tab) focuses on the sites associated with the African American residents and the anti-slavery movement in the Village of Canajoharie. The brochure identifies sites with the village, those still existing and those that are gone with the passage of time.
Dr. James Mereness participated and organized anti-slavery meetings for the western part of Montgomery County for many years prior to the Civil War. Reports indicate that fugitive slaves seeking freedom from their lives in servitude sought shelter in Mereness’ home as part of the Underground Railroad network. Dr. Mereness died in 1872, at which time, he continued his interests in improving the lives of African Americans through bequests to educate them.
The top floor of the 1835 Ames Museum, used as an academy from 1839 to 1959, houses many local artifacts featuring Ames’ hey-day as the hops-growing capital of 19th Century America. This building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
