Are you visiting Central New York anytime soon? Or, maybe you live in CNY and are looking for something fun to do. Then explore the cobblestone streets of historic downtown Syracuse. The first stop is the Erie Canal Museum. It is a must-see hidden gem; not only for what’s inside, but also the captivating murals that line the exterior of the museum. The museum is located at 318 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse, NY.
As you explore the first floor, you will discover fascinating details about the construction of the Erie Canal as well as explore the rich culture that maritime life brought to the Central New York Region.
As you walk through the museum, you quickly notice a trail on the floor with arrows that direct you to a historical timeline of the Canal’s history. Your journey through the museum is up to you, but for the best experience follow the arrows for the most immersive visit. The path you take through the museum directly follows the timeline of the Erie Canal from its initial planning phase in the late 1700s to the present day.
As I glanced at the oil on canvas replicated portraits of James Geddes, Albert Gallatin, and Joshua Forman, I was struck with a sense of both curiosity and deja vu. “Joshua Forman”? Why does that name sound so familiar? Wait, I know it’s because of Forman Street! A corner street that connects the inner city to the fringes of the hill where you’ll find great vegan food, the best Boba, and even a historic cross-functional art center CFAC – Community Folk Art Center.
Connecting the past to my own modern life in Syracuse’s metro, I learned that Forman, a New York Assemblyman, convinced his peers and community that an uninterrupted waterway from the Hudson River to the Great Lakes would enrich the state in its entirety. Thankfully, the people listened. As a native of CNY, I didn’t learn any of this history in school. We did visit the canal at the Town of Dewitt Park and sing the folk song “Fifteen years on the Erie Canal,” but that’s about it. This section of the first floor of the museum also has an exhibit called Miles by Miles: Western Division, which discusses the geographical challenges of the canal between the Seneca River and Buffalo.
The Museum also features an interactive exhibition titled “The Erie Canal Made New York,” which includes interactive games, artifacts, and narrative audio. The most exciting among them was a simulation of how to navigate a canal Lock. Historically a lock port, water once surrounded the Erie Canal Museum. The interactive simulation imitates the process that boats of yesteryear would undergo to maneuver along the canal. As you play the game, listen closely to the virtual lock tender and level the boat. Otherwise, you might hit the wall.
After several failed attempts at trying to win this game, I also learned that a canal Lock raises and lowers boats between stretches of water of different levels. The Lock chamber has gates at both ends. The gates are closed and water is added or released to raise or lower the boat to the next level.
As you explore the first floor, you come upon a walkway arc replicating the official canal launch. As you cross the arc threshold you will see an outdoor replica boat. Here visitors can learn about travelers and crew members’ canal voyages. The first floor also has a treat for young visitors. In the corner of the museum’s first floor, a kids’ section features a dress-up play area, historical children’s books, and even a live puppet show. Other fascinating exhibits on this floor include a historical banking replica and an arts and culture section that features folk song recordings of Elizabeth “Libba” Cotton.
After exploring the museum’s first floor, be sure to venture up to the second, where you will be treated to displays that mark signature points in the history of Central New York. Here you will also see historic china detailed with imagery of residents from that era and royal blue wave patterns. Along the second floor, you will find a Tavern, general store, and theater. There is also an exhibit about Onondaga Pottery and Syracuse China, businesses that originated in the early days of the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal Museum is informative and fun for the whole family. This vibrant combination of culture and interactive history is sure to make a lasting impact. The murals on the exterior walls, old town replicas, and interactive games all convey the lives of those who traveled on the canal and act as preservation for the history of Upstate New York. The Museum is also accessible and contains both elevators and ramps for the ease of all visitors.
