Lecture: "19th Century Glimpses of New York State's Canals"

“I PRESUMED WE WERE ALL TO FIGURE IN A FUTURE VOLUME OF TRAVELS: 19TH CENTURY GLIMPSES OF NEW YORK STATE’S CANALS” with Paul Schneider. Now well launched into the multiyear bicentennial of the Erie and Champlain canals, our modern perceptions of these canals are naturally shaped by today’s barge canal system and its many uses, experiences and events in which we participate either on or along its prominent route bisecting the state. Certainly, the original builders of the canals would not recognize them today. This presentation will seek to catch glimpses of our grandfathers’ (and great, great, great grandfathers’) canal. We’ll dip our toes into the evidentiary streams of the canals’ past and discover some lesser known accounts that may surprise you. 7:00 PM in the Riverport Wooden Boat School classroom. Suggested donation $5, pre-registration recommended.