Looking to get out and enjoy the warmer temperatures? There’s so much to explore here in Amsterdam.
Take a walk on the MGVO where the Tulips are in full bloom. The smell of these fresh flowers is amazing and you won’t be disappointed. Listen to the birds chirping and the water flowing below on the Mohawk River while you explore the history of the MVGO and all its beauty.
Feeling Hungry?
Head on over to the Southside to Evolve Eatery for some delicious food prepared from locally sourced produce and the freshest ingredients.
After you refuel, enjoy a scenic walk or bring your Bike on the Erie Canalway Trail just steps from Evolve Eatery.
So many places to explore locally in our County and we would love to hear, what is your favorite?
The Fulton Montgomery Chamber of Commerce is seeking updated Brochures, Rack Cards, Menus etc. from all Tourism Properties/Businesses in Montgomery County.
We are currently looking for updated and new information to expand our Tourism Center and need your help.
Please email mctourism@fultonmontgomeryny.org if you have anything to provide to us. Pick-up’s can be arranged or you can drop off to our location at the Amsterdam Riverfront Center.
We look forward to hearing from you and expanding our Tourism Center. Thank you!
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing have been very popular events this winter. Schoharie Crossing is a wonderful place to get some fresh air with beautiful scenery. Parking is available at the Visitor Center, on 129 Schoharie Street in Fort Hunter.
The total mileage on this walk was about 5 miles. There are other options – from the Visitor Center there is a mile loop along the Woodchuck Walk and a left (westward) back on the Towpath Trail. Walking just to or from Yankee Hill is about 2.5 miles and can be the same distance as a return on the Towpath Trail or Empire State Trail (Canalway bike path). Folks could also park at Yankee Hill or the Southside of Amsterdam to just walk the Eagle Trail.
David writes- “After checking out the remains of the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct, start your day on the Woodchuck Walk (blue trail) along the towpath of the original Erie Canal “Clinton’s Ditch” from the Visitor Center to Empire Lock 29 –near the center of our historic site. (You can almost hear those mules pulling barges) It is where the original canal eventually (in 1845) became the feeder for the Enlarged Erie Canal. There is quite the noticeable difference to the landscape between those two eras of canal, and in the magnitude of the locks as well. It is THE place to witness those two canal eras so closely side by side. Then cross over Empire Lock by use of footbridges where the gates once operated and head further eastward on the red marked Towpath Trail toward Yankee Hill Lock. During that couple of miles, we’ll pass by a portion of old stone quarry, the Wemps Basin on the canal, and travel directly between the old canal prism and the Mohawk River. If you’re lucky, we may see some seasonal waterfowl or other scurrying little critters along the way.”
Schoharie Creek Aqueduct, located off the Overlook Trail
Once you head eastward-you will find the red marked Towpath Trail toward Yankee Hill Lock.
“When you make your way to Yankee Hill Lock, you will encounter the Putman Canal Store which operated from about 1855 to 1910, servicing canal needs from hay and oats to leather goods, rope, lamp oil, candles, food, and alcohol. Just across the river is Old Fort Johnson, and Yankee Hill has had a long history from the colonial era to the modern day. Stop for a moment and enjoy the rich history and beautiful scenery. The Empire State Trail through Montgomery County used to be the West Shore train line on the southside.”
A couple Friends of Schoharie Crossing on the Towpath Trail at Empire Lock #29.
Sign on the Towpath Trail before reaching Yankee Hill Lock.
Stopping for a few moments at the Putman Canal Store to enjoy the historic locks and listen to the train passing by on the northside of the Mohawk River.
“This two and a half mile extension along the old Erie Canal towpath is a more natural and unpaved walking path then the bike trail, but it provides a closer and better view of the River along the way with a tree canopy for shade on summers sunny days. The Eagle Trail currently hooks up to the Empire State Trail just west of the bocce ball courts and boat launch in South Amsterdam – formerly Port Jackson on the canal.”
Riverside views off the Eagle Trail of today’s canal infrastructure at Lock E11
The southside of Amsterdam is a great place to explore and take a break for a nice lunch or dinner. There are plenty of restaurants to explore. Please visit www.visitmontgomerycountyny.com, or https://www.amsterdamny.gov/our-city/visiting-amsterdam for dining, lodging, and shopping options! It is a good idea to call ahead to ensure tables are available.
Check it out in every season. Looking forward to walking this trail in the summer as well, then walk around the MVGO and Riverlink Park. Spring is around the corner! Wait until the tulips bloom.
Special thanks David Brooks, to the Friends of Schoharie Crossing, and Amsterdam Community and Economic Development team Amanda Bearcroft, and Gina DaBiere-Gibbs for contributing pictures, and participating on this cold, sunny day!
The Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park is proud to present a George Washington’s Birthday celebration with three FREE Virtual Events by three Distinguished Historians on three Nights. Please note the dates and start times. These events are made possible through an Anonymous Donor.
Edward G. Lengel – George Washington and the Nemesis of War – Monday, February 22, 2021 – 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Mary V. Thompson – “The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret”: George Washington, Slavery, and the Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon – Thursday, February 25, 2021 – 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
James Kirby Martin – Remembering George Washington: In Context – Monday, March 1, 2021 – 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) is excited to announce their 2021 Virtual “History at Home” Winter Lecture series. The site will offer free online programs from January to March covering a range of interesting history topics. Links for the programs can be found on Schoharie Crossings NYS Parks webpage, on their Facebook, or by contacting the site.
On Wednesday, January 20th the site will celebrate the birthday of industrialist and contractor, Otis Eddy. The program, Otis Eddy’s Aqueduct, will explore Eddy’s life and how he came to be a canal contractor for the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct. Discover his connection to Cornell University and more about the current efforts to preserve the aqueduct remnants at Schoharie Crossing.
January 27th the site will welcome Schenectady Historian Chris Leonard as he discusses the importance of Schenectady’s home front 75 years after the end of WWII. Leonard will explore how Schenectady’s industrial capabilities helped the Allies defeat Japan and Germany with war time production and groundbreaking technologies created by the city’s twin economic powerhouses, General Electric and the American Locomotive Company.
On March 4th, Bill Merchant of the D&H Canal Museum will join Schoharie Crossing for a program about The Black Experience on the D&H Canal. Merchant will discuss the people that worked and traveled on the Delaware and Hudson Canal during its heyday as it conveyed coal from Pennsylvania to New York’s Hudson River. An often under-represented segment of canal history, the experiences of black people along this waterway will examined with documents, images, and anecdotes.
The following week on March 11th, Anne Clothier will provide a lecture on the History of Phrenology. While phrenology often merits only a footnote in modern examinations of social and medical history, it played an important role in how people regarded themselves and others during the formative years of the 1840s. Influencing topics as varied as courtship, employment, criminal justice, abolition, medicine, and suffrage, phrenology was intertwined throughout the everyday lives of many. We will also examine the darker sides of the now debunked concepts, exploring how people of color and indigenous populations were further disenfranchised by its teachings. Clothier is Director of Education at the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa.
Hudson Valley Community College professor Matthew Zembo will provide a discussion on February 18th titled, “The 34th Regiment of Foot: A British Regiment in the Northern Frontier of the American War of Independence.” Zembo will discuss how the regiment operated in a vastly different theater of war then those experienced in Europe, how civilians played a role, and what actions the soldiers engaged in during the fight to put down rebellion in New York.
On March 4th, Schoharie Crossing educator David Brooks will present DeWitt’s Duel. The life of DeWitt Clinton is an interesting exploration into the politics of early America and New York State. Recognized now as the “Father of the Erie Canal,” NYS governor and former mayor of New York City, Clinton had tended to personal and political rivalries to accomplish legislative goals. Join in to discover some of the intrigue, wrangling, and dirty politics that lead ultimately to DeWitt’s Duel on the plains of Weehawken, New Jersey.
To wrap up the series, Audrey Humphrey from Johnson Hall State Historic Site will present an exploration of Sir William Johnson and his connection to Fort Hunter on March 18th. Johnson was one of the largest landowners in New York by the mid-18th century and his influence in the Mohawk Valley is evident even to this day. As Superintendent of Indian Affairs, his connection to the Mohawk village of Tionondoroge and congregation at Queen Anne’s Chapel influenced the how the American Revolution played out in New York after his death in 1774.
All the programs will begin at 6:30pm and are offered for free via the online platform, WebEx. The links for these programs go live at 6:20pm. There are no tickets to purchase and no need to pre-register.
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.
The Landis Arboretum aims to foster appreciation and understanding of trees and other plants and their importance in our environment. The educational curriculum is a major component of the Arboretum’s program. Events and workshops designed for elementary school classes as well as the general public focus on the flora and fauna of the Arboretum. Associated activities are as wide-ranging as botanical drawing classes, garden and trail tours, astronomy nights, and bird- and owl- watching sessions. The Arboretum as a dynamic, outdoor classroom of hundreds of acres is reflected in its wide-ranging Calendar of Events.
Landis is currently offering a wide range of Virtual Classes and Workshops. Click here (opens in a new tab) to visit their website and click on Videos to access all Virtual Classes and Workshops.
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will host Mary Alexander, Curator of Education and Public Engagement at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie, for a program on Tuesday, October 13th. Tune in at 6:30pm for the presentation, “Perennial in Frame: Picturesque History with The Arkell Museum.”
Explore some of the great paintings in the collection at the Arkell Museum with Mary Alexander, and David Brooks of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. Discover more about the collection, the artists, and the history represented in the amazing portraits and landscapes. “Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power a pageant; but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in frame, unlimited in space and indefinite in duration.” ― DeWitt Clinton, The Life and Writings of DeWitt Clinton.
As part of the sixth annual Tuesday Talk series to recognize New York State History Month, the site will offer this program for free and via the online platform Webex. The link can be found on the Schoharie Crossing Facebook, the NYS Parks Website, or by contacting the site.
Other NY State History Month programs being offered by Schoharie Crossing are:
The Schuyler Sisters with Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site staff Jessica Serfilippi on Tuesday, October 20th at 6:30pm.
The Life and Times of DeWitt Clinton with Ashley Maready of the Erie Canal Museum on Wednesday, October 21st at 1:00pm.
Converging on the Canal: the 19th Century Through Food with Amanda Massie and Valerie Balint on Tuesday, October 27th at 6:30pm.
10 Stories with Bob Cudmore on Wednesday, October 28th at 1pm.
For information about this program, 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.
The D&H Canal: 19th Century Engine of Prosperity program offered by Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site!
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will host Bill Merchant of the D&H Canal Museum on Thursday, September 24th at 6:30pm for a special online program. The D&H Canal: 19th Century Engine of Prosperity tells the basic history of the Delaware and Hudson Canal and illustrates how many of the industries it fostered. Discover just how the canal that spanned from Pennsylvania to the Hudson River impacted the history of New York State.
Bill Merchant has been with the D&H Canal Historical Society for over eight years. He previously served as board president and is now employed as the Deputy Director for Collections, Historian and Curator. He also serves as president of the Delaware and Hudson Transportation Heritage Council, vice president of the Ulster County Historical Society, and on the board of the Century House Historical Society, where he serves as historian and collections committee chair.
This is a free event hosted via Webex and the link can be found on the Schoharie Crossing Facebook event listing or by visiting their NYS Parks webpage. Please note that the link online goes live ten minutes prior to the presentation.
This is part of a series of online programs Schoharie Crossing has been offering in 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis. The Erie Canal historic site will continue to provide programs through Webex as well as other online programs and social media. Look for more great programs in October to recognize NYS History Month.
The site grounds remain open for appropriate socially distant recreational use from sunrise to sunset daily. Please observe NYS Guidelines while visiting Schoharie Crossing. For information about these programs, please find us on Facebook or you can call or email the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov.
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 this fall, 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. Participants set their own mileage goal and walk, run, cycle or paddle to achieve it.
Nearly 1,000 individuals, teams, and organizations have signed up for the Canalway Challenge in 2020, pledging to walk, run, cycle, and paddle 126,000 miles to date. New this fall, participants are encouraged to take up a quest to discover great food and beverages, historic sites, parks, and communities and discover what’s Hot on the Trail while completing the Canalway Challenge.
“Hot on the Trail adds a new element of discovery to the Canalway Challenge, while also supporting small businesses and attractions that have suffered from reduced visitation during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.“It’s a win-win for both visitors and for small businesses and attractions that have reopened with safety protocols in place.”
From now through the end of October, Hot on the Trail participants are encouraged to visit sites in nine categories–including food and beverage, museums and historic sites, nature preserves, state and national parks, canal structures, and communities. Participants who list their favorites sites in each category by the end of October will be entered to win a $50 gift card to the New York State Canal Store.
“The Canalway Challenge is another of countless opportunities – both on and off the water – for recreation and fun along New York State’s historic canalway, and I join the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in encouraging all New Yorkers to enjoy all that we have to offer,” said Brian U. Stratton, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation. “Governor Andrew Cuomo is committed to supporting the heritage and future of New York’s historic canal system, with initiatives that feature local activities that combine some of the best of New York State’s historical sights and natural resources with recreational activities that help to support local businesses during this exceptionally difficult time.”
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 works to preserve the Nation’s extraordinary canal heritage, promote the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and foster 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)
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will continue to offer online programs throughout the summer even as the Visitor Center is now open by appointment. The Erie Canal historic site will provide programs through Webex as well as other online platforms and social media.
The next “virtual” program is scheduled for 6:30pm on Tuesday, July 28th and the topic will be how foodways in America changed because of westward expansion and the Erie Canal. Lavada Nahon will discuss how the movement of people and the mix of cultures transformed the way people eat. Nahon is a culinary historian, editor and historic interpreter for the Bureau of Historic Site and Park Services.
On Thursday, August 13th at 6:30pm, join us via Webex as Schoharie Crossing hosts Schenectady City Historian Chris Leonard as he delivers a rollicking ride on the Erie Canal through Schenectady, from the Rexford Aqueduct to old Lock 23, the busiest transit point on the entire canal. Spend time with GE executives on boisterous pleasure cruises and hustle through backstreets with greenhorns desperately seeking whiskey. Travel with Leonard as he spins yarns of Schenectady’s unique characters, ne’er-do-well wharf rats, and foul-mouthed parrots, who made their livings on the canal.
During the month of August, the site is hosting a book club with weekly check-ins that will include discussion on the reading and an opportunity to pose questions. The selection is the 2016 release by author Jack Kelly, “Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal.” Participants can submit questions for the author, as Kelly will be providing an online presentation with Q&A on September 2nd.
Additional programs are being planned. The site grounds are open for appropriate socially distant recreational use from sunrise to sunset daily. Please observe NYS Guidelines while visiting Schoharie Crossing.
For information about these programs, please find us on Facebook or you can call or email the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov. You can make a reservation to explore the Pathway to Empire exhibit by contacting the site.
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.
fresh flowers is amazing and you won’t be disappointed. Listen to the birds chirping and the water flowing below on the Mohawk River while you explore the history of the MVGO and all its beauty.
