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Tag: Schoharie Crossing

Events

Erie Canal Art the Topic for Presentation

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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

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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.

Schoharie Crossing Offers Online Programs

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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.

Schoharie Crossing re-opening Visitor Center

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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.

Canalway Challenge Promotes Health and History Along New York’s Canals

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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.

Sign up at www.canalwaychallenge.org

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/

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NOTICE TO MARINERS – 2020 CANAL SEASON OPENING SCHEDULE

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The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that much of the 524-mile Canal system will open for through navigation of the locks by July 4, 2020 as maintenance and construction projects are set to resume on a regional basis under the “NY Forward Reopening” plan.

Canal Corporation crews and contractors will mobilize to work sites in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and Western NY regions as those areas reopen. Maintenance work that needs to be completed at specific Canal facilities varies by location and locks along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals will open for passage in a staggered fashion. Announcements regarding specific lock or regional openings will be communicated through the Canal Corporation’s “Notice to Mariners” notification program available at www.canals.ny.gov.

 

OPENING SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)

Capital Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD

  • Erie Canal from Lock E-2 in Waterford to Lock E-9 in Rotterdam
  • Champlain Canal from Lock C-1 in Waterford to Lock C-12 in Whitehall

Mohawk Valley Region – Locks opening in phases, targeted for between July 4th & August 10th

  • Erie Canal Lock E-10 in Cranesville through Sylvan Beach at Oneida Lake

Central NY Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th

  • Erie Canal from Oneida Lake to Lock E-25 in May’s Point
  • Oswego Canal – except Lock O-7 in Oswego

Finger Lakes Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th

  • Erie Canal from Lock E-25 in May’s Point to Locks E-34/35 in Lockport – except Lock E-26 in Clyde
  • Cayuga – Seneca Canal – except Locks CS-2/3 in Seneca Falls

Western NY Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD

  • Erie Canal Locks E-34/35 in Lockport through Tonawanda

As maintenance and construction work commences, most boaters, paddlers, and anglers can access sections of the Canal system for recreational use today. Mariners are advised that some sections of the Canal system will have reduced water levels until such time as the Canal Corporation completes its projects. In addition, navigation aids are not currently in place, but will be installed on the Canal system as the regions open.

All users of the Canal system and adjacent Empire State Trail are encouraged to practice social distancing while using boat launches, trails and other public resources.

The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience during this time and urges all users to register to receive updates through the “Notice to Mariners” notification program

at www.canals.ny.gov.

Freedom Seekers in the Mohawk Valley as Museum Monday Program at Schoharie Crossing

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The Visitor Center at Schoharie Crossing will be open on Monday, February 3rd for the second Museum Monday program of the year.  The topic will be Abolition and Slavery in Montgomery County with Montgomery County Historian Kelly Farquhar. Discover information on freedom seekers in the Mohawk Valley and how the Erie Canal was used to spread ideas, shape ideology, and as a way to escape bondage.

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will be opening the doors at their Visitor Center this off season on each first Monday of the month for these Museum Monday Programs.  The building will open at 10:00am on February 3rd, March 2nd, and April 6th to provide a themed discussion within the Pathway to Empire Exhibit beginning at 12:00pm.

The exhibit space will be open until 2pm on these days. Each program is open to the public and questions are encouraged. This is not a formal presentation and the idea is to explore the exhibit and discover more about each theme topic.

The rest of the program schedule is as follows:

On March 2nd we say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DeWitt! Celebrate the Birthday of DeWitt Clinton, Erie Canal proponent, NYS Governor, and founding son of early America.  We will take a look at his portrait inside the gallery, enjoy cupcakes, and learn more about his life.

April 6th the theme will be a discussion on how the federal government rejected funding the NYS project to build the Erie Canal. Learn more about how NY constructed the canal anyway, and some thoughts on how a conspiracy may have been involved.

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.

Fall Foliage Report: October 16-22

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I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report (opens in a new tab) ” on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November.  Montgomery County has started its own annual report this year as well.

Amsterdam

Reporting station:  Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) , Fort Hunter

Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend:  75%

Brilliance: Average to bright

Predominating colors: Oranges and yellows are really showing off

Rating: Near peak to peak

As temperatures drop, more bright colors are emerging.  The upper edges of the Mohawk Valley are nearer peak so a drive along the Mohawk River provides an explosion of fine fall foliage.  Fingers crossed the rain doesn’t put a damper on the leaf peeping.  Leaves that changed earlier in the season have already fallen with the help of wind and rain.

The Noses as seen traveling east on Route 5

This weekend is full with a variety of events including the annual Halloween Parade (opens in a new tab) in Amsterdam, a Taste of Chocolate & Basket Fundraiser (opens in a new tab) for the Frothingham Free Library, an Evening at Nellis Tavern (opens in a new tab) , Old Fort Johnson’s Harvest Festival (opens in a new tab) , a concert from the Mohawk Valley Chamber Ensemble (opens in a new tab) , and an Open House (opens in a new tab) at an alpaca farm.

This Friday and Saturday the Historic League of Amsterdam presents Ghosts of the Past: A Haunted History Tour of Green Hill Cemetery (opens in a new tab) .  Meet past notable Amsterdam residents and learn their stories while experiencing beautiful and historic Green Hill Cemetery.  All tours begin and end at Amsterdam City Hall.  Free refreshments provided.  Tour times for both Friday and Saturday nights are 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30pm.  Tickets are available at the Book Hound and Damiano’s Flowers.

Saturday the VanAlstyne Homestead & Museum (opens in a new tab) is holding the 8th Annual Soup Tasting & Craft Fair (opens in a new tab) .  There will be delicious soups donated by local chefs, and eateries, fall seasoned crafts available by vendors from far and wide, and delicious harvest specialties grown by local producers.  There will also be local and international artists on hand with their beautiful works on display.  Live music will be performed in the century old ballroom, museum tours will be available, as well as a 50/50 raffle.

The Arkell Museum (opens in a new tab) presents Adirondack Lumber Camp Songs (opens in a new tab) on Sunday afternoon.  Join in for an afternoon of rousing lumberjack songs.  Enjoy the music and learn about this tough, rough, and crucial work. This program also includes informative narratives about Adirondack Mountain logging camps in the 1800s.  This program runs about an hour and is most enjoyable for older children and adults.  Admission is free.  Donations are always welcome and help support future programs.

Explore our countryside, enjoy our events (opens in a new tab) , and take in the autumn season!

Call for Travel Guides and Specialty Maps!

1.800.743.7337

Fall Foliage Report: October 9-15

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I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report (opens in a new tab) ” on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November.  Montgomery County has started its own annual report this year as well.

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Aqueduct

Reporting station:  Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) , Fort Hunter

Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend:  50%

Brilliance: Average to bright in some locations

Predominating colors: Still plenty of green but with oranges coming through strong with yellows and dulling reds

Rating: Midpoint moving quickly toward peak

This weekend we will reach midpoint with peak coming within the next couple of weeks.  There is still a lot of green in some locations but more color is showing through each day.  Leaves that changed early are starting to shed.

Erie Canalway Trail

On Saturday, the Schoharie River Center (opens in a new tab) will host its first ever “Hammer In” welcoming both blacksmiths and the general public to an informal gathering. Blacksmiths are welcome to attend to share techniques and skills with other blacksmiths and the public is invited to meet the blacksmiths and learn about this ancient craft. The Schoharie River Center has a newly constructed, timber-framed, blacksmith shop and all are welcome to celebrate.

Saturday and Sunday, is the 2019 Indigenous Peoples Weekend (opens in a new tab) at Saint Kateri Shrine (opens in a new tab) .  Tom Porter will present “The Journey from Birth to Death: Native American Wisdom on Healing from Trauma”: learn from Mohawk Elder Tom Porter how the beliefs and customs related to death and loss can help in the journey to comfort and healing.   Stay for Native Mass, featuring music by the Akwesasne Choir, including an Opening Prayer of Thanksgiving and smudging ceremony.

Sunday evening, the Landis Arboretum (opens in a new tab) hosts the traditional end to the warm season schedule with an owl prowl (opens in a new tab) .  Learn about the owls of the Arboretum with a short indoor session and then it’s off to the woods to call and listen for owls.

Explore our countryside, enjoy our events (opens in a new tab) , and take in the autumn season!

Call for Travel Guides and Specialty Maps!

1.800.743.7337

Fall Foliage Report: September 25-October 1

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I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report (opens in a new tab) ” on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November.  Montgomery County has started its own annual report this year as well.

Reporting station:  Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) , Fort Hunter

Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend:  20%

Brilliance: Dull to average as more color emerges

Predominating colors: Greens with pops of orange and reds developing

Rating: Beginning with a lot more brilliant and beautiful colors to come

Green is still predominant with more orange and yellow showing through.

Enjoy a night of music and dancing!  Friday night at the Elk’s Lodge in Amsterdam, Grand Central Station (opens in a new tab) will perform; wings and craft brews will be available to purchase.

Saturday features A Taste of History, the Garden Bug Fall Festival, Family Fun Day, the Friends of Sanford Stud Farm Open House and so much more (opens in a new tab) .

The Friends of Sanford Stud Farm Open House (opens in a new tab) will feature food trucks, vendors, and crafters.  Tour the historical Hurricana Barn and enjoy a variety of local vendors.

Mohawk Valley Collective (opens in a new tab) in collaboration with the Fort Plain Free Library (opens in a new tab) host “Family Fun Day (opens in a new tab) ” in Haslett Park, Fort Plain.  Including the popular Chalk-on-the-Walk where art is drawn on the sidewalk around the park, a bounce house, and many other family friendly events.  Food and ice cream will also be available.

The Montgomery County Historical Society’s annual fall fundraiser, A Taste of History (opens in a new tab) , features over a dozen soups, along with freshly baked breads and homemade pies.  Benefiting the preservation of Old Fort Johnson (opens in a new tab) , this year’s event will be held at the Century Club (opens in a new tab) in Amsterdam.  Seating is limited seating and advance tickets are recommended.  Admission includes unlimited soup samples, bread, pie, beverage and a special souvenir mug.  Tickets can be purchased online (opens in a new tab) .

The annual Garden Bug Fall Festival (opens in a new tab) will have a variety of agricultural products and fall decor available for purchase: mums, pumpkins, indian corn, bows, hay bales, corn stalks, and more.  Vendors and crafters will be on hand both Saturday and Sunday.  Music, bounce house, cider donuts, wagon rides, car cruise-in (Saturday only beginning at noon), food and gifts are all available.

Explore our countryside, enjoy our events (opens in a new tab) , and take in the autumn season!

Call for Travel Guides and Specialty Maps!

1.800.743.7337