Erie Canal Celebrates 200 Years

This year marks the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary, with the Bicentennial celebrated throughout the year with a variety of festivals, events, exhibits and attractions that honor the canal’s incredible history and impact on New York and the nation. Since its opening in 1925, the canal has remained an architectural marvel, earning New York the title of “Empire State” and standing as the “Gateway to the West.”

Celebrations and events throughout the year will include a Canal History Blog Series that highlights the waterway’s influence on Cayuga County, a Bicentennial Photo Gallery and a Canal Photo Contest. Visitors can download the Canal Bicentennial Explorer’s Guide for a map of historic sites and attractions along the county’s canal corridor, and the Bicentennial is marked by a commemorative poster by David Owens Illustration, reports FingerLakes1.com.

The celebrations culminate with the arrival of the Seneca Chief, a full-scale replica of Governor DeWitt Clinton’s original packet boat, which will retrace the 1825 grand opening journey of the Erie Canal, stopping in 28 ports along the way and docking in Cayuga County on October 2.

For a full list of events, visit eriecanalway.org/bicentennial.