National Canal Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Location | Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Type | History museum |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
| Owner | Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor |
The National Canal Museum, also known as the Hugh Moore Historical Park & Museums, is a cool place to visit in Easton, Pennsylvania. It's part of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, which helps protect and share the history of canals and rivers in the area.
This museum teaches you all about the history of canals, especially the ones that helped transport goods in Pennsylvania. It's a fun way to learn how people lived and worked along these important waterways long ago. The museum and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor joined together in 2017 to work even better as one team.
Contents
Discovering Canal History
The National Canal Museum first opened its doors in 1970. It was a team effort between the City of Easton's Hugh Moore Park Commission and the Pennsylvania Canal Society. The museum was set up right where the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers meet, making it a perfect spot to learn about canals.
The Josiah White Canal Boat
A really exciting part of the museum is the Josiah White II, a replica canal boat. It started giving rides in 1978 with an earlier boat, and these rides quickly became a favorite for visitors. Imagine being pulled along the canal by mules, just like in the old days!
In 1982, the museum updated its exhibits. They started showing more about the wider history of the towpath canal era. This also included the industrial history of the Lehigh Valley, where many factories and businesses used the canals.
Moving and Growing
The National Canal Museum moved to a new spot called Two Rivers Landing in 1996. This move helped to bring new life to downtown Easton. Today, many people visit Two Rivers Landing each year.
Starting in 2002, the museum began adding more hands-on activities. They even received a large grant to create exhibits about the "science and technology of canals and inland waterways." In March 2006, a new exhibit space opened. It focused on how canals were built and how boats traveled on them.
In 2012, the museum moved back to Hugh Moore Park. The Emrick Technology Center became the main exhibit and office space. Then, in 2013, the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor started managing the museum. This led to the two organizations officially joining together in 2017. Now, the museum is a special program of the D&L.
Museum Collections
The museum has a huge collection of items that show what life was like during the canal era. They have artifacts, films, photos, and even old engineering drawings. These items help tell the story of America's canals and the industries that grew up around them in the Lehigh Valley.
The museum also takes care of historic buildings and sites within Hugh Moore Park. These include part of the Lehigh Canal, three working locks, and a locktender's house. There are also ruins from old factories and the remains of the Change Bridge, an early iron cable bridge.
Museum Recognition
The National Canal Museum is recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This means it meets high standards for museums. It's also connected with the Smithsonian Institution, which is a group of famous museums and research centers.
Exploring Hugh Moore Park
Hugh Moore Park is a large park in Easton, Pennsylvania. It's located between the Lehigh River and the Lehigh Canal. The park covers about 520 acres (2.1 km2). This area was once an industrial hub because of all the anthracite coal brought down the Lehigh Canal from places like Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.
The City of Easton bought the park in 1962 with money donated by Hugh Moore. This led to the creation of the Pennsylvania Canal Society and, eventually, the National Canal Museum. The park has been improved over the years with biking and hiking trails, a boat launch, and picnic areas. It also helps protect old industrial ruins, including three locks. One of these is the only working lift lock in Pennsylvania and New Jersey!
The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor helps maintain and explain the historic sites within Hugh Moore Park. These include Section 8 of the Lehigh Canal, its three working locks, a locktender's house, and the Change Bridge.
The Emrick Technology Center
The Elaine and Peter Emrick Technology Center is a large, two-story brick building. It looks like the factories that would have been in the park during the industrial era. This building has a reception area, exhibit spaces, offices, and the museum's archives.
The Emrick Technology Center opened in 2007. Its first exhibit, "From this Valley: Iron, Steel and the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution," showed how important the Lehigh Valley was during the Industrial Revolution. In 2012, the National Canal Museum moved here from Two Rivers Landing. Many of the exhibits and hands-on activities were moved too. The museum, right next to the mule-drawn canal boat, opened here on Memorial Day weekend in 2012.
Museum Archives
The Emrick Technology Center also holds the museum's archives. These archives store important historical information about transportation and industry in the area. The collection has grown a lot since 1985. It is now a top place for information about technology in the Lehigh Valley and canal transportation in America.
The museum's collection includes thousands of artifacts, films, photos, engineering drawings, and books. They even have rare film footage of canal life and old canal maps. The museum also has a historian who can give talks and help researchers.
The Locktender's House
The Locktender's House is a restored house located between the Lehigh River and Guard Lock 8 on the Lehigh Canal. A museum is set up on its first floor. This house shows what life was like for people who worked on the canal in the 1800s and early 1900s.
The house was built very close to the lock. This was so the locktender, the person in charge of operating the lock, could quickly come out and do their job. The museum opened in 1974. Guides in costumes help visitors imagine what working on the canal would have been like.
The Josiah White II Canal Boat
The Josiah White II is the boat used for the canal boat ride today. It's made of steel and was built in 1993. The first canal boat, named the Josiah White, operated from 1978 until 1993. It now serves as a visual reminder near the canal.
The canal boat ride helps visitors understand what it was like to build, live, and work on the canal. Two mules, named Hank and George, pull the boat. The ride tries to show what moving down the canal was like when it was busy. Rides usually last about 40 minutes and cover topics like mules, mule tending, and the history of the canal.
Museum Timeline
- 1962: The City of Easton buys Hugh Moore Park with money from Hugh Moore.
- 1966: The Pennsylvania Canal Society is formed.
- 1970: The Canal Museum opens as a joint effort.
- 1974: The Locktender's House Museum opens.
- 1978: The first canal boat, Josiah White, begins operation.
- 1979: The first annual Canal Festival is held.
- 1982: The Canal Museum's exhibits are redesigned to focus on the national history of canals.
- 1984: The Friends of Hugh Moore Park changes its name to Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums, Inc.
- 1985: The museum gets property for its collection and archives.
- 1988: The U.S. Congress creates the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
- 1992: The museum gets accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.
- 1994: The Josiah White II boat starts giving rides.
- 1996: A new National Canal Museum opens in downtown Easton.
- 2000: A campaign begins to raise money for a new center with technology and science exhibits.
- 2003: The National Science Foundation gives the museum a grant for new science and technology exhibits.
- 2006: New interactive exhibits are installed.
- 2007: The Emrick Technology Center opens.
- 2012: The National Canal Museum moves back to Hugh Moore Park.
- 2013: The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor starts managing the museum.
- 2017: The National Canal Museum and Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor officially merge.
See also
