Erie Canal Museum facts for kids
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| Established | October 25, 1962 |
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Weighlock Building
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Erie Canal Museum in former weigh lock building, Syracuse, New York
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | SE corner of Erie Blvd. E. and Montgomery St., Syracuse, New York |
| Built | 1849 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000552 |
| Added to NRHP | February 18, 1971 |
The Erie Canal Museum is a cool place to visit in Syracuse, New York. It teaches you all about the amazing Erie Canal. This museum started in 1962 and is a private, non-profit group.
What makes this museum special is where it's located: the old Syracuse Weighlock Building. This building was used from 1850 to 1883. It was like a giant scale! Boats traveling on the Erie Canal would enter it to be weighed. This weight helped figure out how much money they had to pay in tolls.
Today, the museum shows off old items from the Erie Canal. It also has a section about how the canal is still used today. The museum's main goal is to help people learn about the Erie Canal's rich history. They want everyone to know that the canal isn't just a thing of the past. It still exists in different ways!
The museum's Weighlock Building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Contents
The Weighlock Building: A Historic Scale for Boats
The Weighlock Building was built in 1850. It had a very important job: weighing boats on the Erie Canal. Imagine a huge scale that boats could float onto!
In 1883, the canal stopped charging tolls. So, the building wasn't needed as a weighlock anymore. Over the years, it was used for many different things. By 1940, a state department was using it. Since 1962, it has been the home of the Erie Canal Museum.
How a Weighlock Worked
When the weighlock was working, boats would sail right into a special chamber inside the building. Then, the water would be let out of the chamber. This made the boat rest on huge scales. The weight of the boat was used to figure out the toll.
To get the most accurate weight, they would subtract the boat's empty weight. This empty weight was listed on a special certificate for each boat.
The Museum's Story: Saving History
The Erie Canal Museum was started in 1962. A group of people really wanted to save the historic Weighlock Building. They knew it was a special piece of history. Thanks to them, the museum opened in this unique building.
Today, the Erie Canal Museum building is the only weighlock left from the Erie Canal. It's a truly rare and important artifact itself!
Exploring the Museum's Collections
The Syracuse Weighlock Building is the biggest and most important item in the museum's collection. It's amazing to think it was almost torn down!
Inside the museum, you can see a full-size copy of a canal boat called the Frank Buchanan Thomson. It's displayed where the lock chamber used to be. There's no water now, but you can easily imagine what it looked like when boats were weighed there.
When the museum first opened in 1962, it didn't have many items. Over the years, it has slowly and carefully collected many things. Today, the museum has over 50,000 items! These items are all about the Erie Canal and other man-made waterways.
The collection includes:
- About 1,400 objects like costumes, tools, and boat equipment.
- Many prints, sketches, and paintings.
- Around 39,000 photographs and negatives.
- Old books, maps, and other historical papers.
Visiting the Erie Canal Museum Today
The Erie Canal Museum is a popular spot for groups visiting Syracuse, New York. It also acts as the city's Visitor's Center. The museum hosts talks and events all year long.
You might want to check out the Annual Gingerbread Gallery each winter. They also have "After Hours" events on Wednesday nights during the summer.
The museum is dedicated to keeping the 1850 National Register Weighlock Building safe. It's the last building of its kind! The museum also loves telling the amazing story of the Erie Canal.
When you visit, you can:
- Step aboard a full-size copy of a canal boat.
- Imagine what life was like in a canal town.
- Even put on a puppet show!
The Erie Canal Museum is a must-see for everyone, young and old! It helps you experience a part of history that was very important for the growth of the United States.
Admission to the museum is usually by donation. A $5.00 donation is suggested.
The Weighlock Building and the Erie Canal Museum can also be rented for parties, receptions, or meetings. They have both indoor and outdoor spaces available.
Images for kids
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Erie Canal Museum exterior
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Interior of the Erie Canal Museum
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Erie Canal Museum barge display
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Erie Canal Museum boat bunk
