An unplanned stop was the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse. The old town, formed in 1805, was a major shipping port for salt. The Erie Canal flowed through what is now the heart of town. The only remaining weighlock building, which is now the museum, served us well. This was where they would weigh the barges as they traveled down the canal from 1825-1923 on what is now Erie Street. There are plenty of old photograhs.
A replica of a canal boat had displays throughout. I had no idea they were so large or that the canal played such a major role in the development of our country. Many immigrants traveled westward from New York on the canal. This is another replica.
We did enjoy a walk down to Clinton Square for a geocache where I marveled at the old buildings still in the downtown area. Imagine water flowing between those two buildings and across the park where I stood to take the photo!
This painting shows what it looked like when the Erie Canal ran through downtown Syracuse.
The museum included small vignettes with period furnishings which made one feel like she had stepped back in time.
Leon waited for a bartender to come along but it did not happen!
Once we left I REALLY wondered what the Erie Canal looked like! We located the Erie Canal State Park in DeWitt a few miles east. Here we got in an afternoon walk even though the temperature was 80!
The towpath where the mules once pulled the barges along the canal led us to an aqueduct that allowed the canal to cross over Butternut Creek. Quite impressive!
This bridge is over Butternut Creek adjacent to the aqueduct. Of course there isn't much water flowing in the canal now but it must have been a busy place at one time!
So on to Utica and an overnight stop at the Elk's Lodge before heading north into the Adirondacks. The locals recommend we eat greens, chicken diggies, and tomato pie!
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