To this day, the construction of the New York State Canal System that started 200 years ago this summer, is recognized as an engineering marvel. Work began in July 1817 on what would become America’s first superhighway connecting the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain to New York City, the Atlantic Ocean, and the world. To mark the commemoration, the Lois McClure, a replica of the type of wooden canal boats that used to sail the Erie and Champlain canals, is spending the summer marking the bicentennial by visiting communities along the canals. One of the stops will be in Rome, New York on Saturday, July 22nd, where an Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration is being held at Bellamy Harbor Park from Noon to 8pm. https://www.facebook.com/CityofRomeNY/
To learn more about the history of the Schooner Lois McClure, and find a schedule for its 2017 Legacy Tour: http://www.lcmm.org/our_fleet/lois_mcclure_schedule.htm
Read a blog that follows the Lois McClure’s journey this summer along the Erie Canal:
http://blog.lcmm.org/
Mountain Lake PBS will present a documentary on the building of the Erie Canal on Tuesday, September 12th at 8pm.
Watch the trailer for Erie: The Canal That Made America