National Canal Museum facts for kids
The National Canal Museum is a special place in Easton, Pennsylvania. It is the main program of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. This museum helps people learn about canals and how important they were.
The museum and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) joined together in 2017. Now, the D&L takes care of the National Canal Museum. They also manage Hugh Moore Park, the Emrick Technology Center, the Locktender's House Museum, and the Josiah White II canal boat ride.
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A Look Back: Museum History
The National Canal Museum first opened its doors in 1970. It was a team effort between Easton's Hugh Moore Park Commission and the Pennsylvania Canal Society. The museum was built where the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers meet. Its goal was to show off Hugh Moore Park and teach about canals.
People interested in canals, and school groups, often visited the museum. In 1978, something exciting happened: the Josiah White canal boat ride started. This ride became a very popular part of visiting the museum.
In 1982, the museum's exhibits were updated. The goal was to make it a national museum about the towpath canal era. This update also helped the museum start telling the story of the industrial history of the Lehigh Valley.
During this time, the museum began hosting big events. These included the yearly Canal Festival and a symposium about canal history. By 1985, the museum was collecting important items. These items were from both the canal era and the Industrial Revolution.
In 1996, the National Canal Museum moved to downtown Easton. It became part of Two Rivers Landing. This move helped bring new life to the downtown area. About 250,000 people visit Two Rivers Landing every year.
Starting in 2002, the museum worked to add hands-on activities. They wanted visitors to be able to do more than just look. They received a large grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This money helped them create new exhibits. These exhibits focused on the "Science and Technology of Canals and Inland Waterways."
A new exhibit space opened in March 2006. It showed the history, science, and technology of building and using canals.
At the end of 2011, the museum's lease in Two Rivers Landing ended. So, in January 2012, the museum moved back to Hugh Moore Park. The Emrick Technology Center became the main exhibit and office space.
In 2013, the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor started running the museum. This was the start of a three-year process. The two organizations slowly became one. This allowed them to combine their management, finances, and marketing. The merger finished in 2017. Now, the museum is a key part of the D&L.
Museum Collections
The museum has many items that show what life was like during the canal era. These collections also tell the story of industries in the Lehigh Valley that were connected to canals.
The museum holds thousands of artifacts, films, and audio tapes. It also has many photos, engineering drawings, and books. You can find rare film of canal life and old maps. There are also captain's logs and engineering plans for many canals.
The museum also takes care of historic places within Hugh Moore Park. This park is a National Register Historic District. It includes part of the Lehigh Canal with working locks. There are also old industrial ruins and the remains of the Change Bridge. This bridge was one of America's first iron cable suspension bridges.
Museum Recognition
The National Canal Museum is recognized by important groups. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is also connected to the famous Smithsonian Institution.
Exploring Hugh Moore Park
Hugh Moore Park is a city park in Easton. It sits between the Lehigh River and the Lehigh Canal. The park covers about 520 acres (2.1 km²). This includes part of the Lehigh River and Section 8 of the Lehigh Canal.
This area was once an industrial hub. This was because a lot of anthracite coal was brought down the Lehigh Canal. The coal came from places like Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.
The City of Easton bought the park in 1962. The money for this was given by Hugh Moore. This purchase helped start the Pennsylvania Canal Society in 1966. Eventually, it led to the creation of the National Canal Museum.
Over the years, the park has been improved. These changes make it better for visitors. Improvements include a bike and hiking trail and a boat launch. There are also picnic areas and preserved industrial ruins. The park has three working locks. One of these is the only working lift lock in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor helps maintain the historic sites in Hugh Moore Park. These include Section 8 of the Lehigh Canal and its three working locks. They also care for a locktender's house and old industrial ruins. The Change Bridge, an early iron cable suspension bridge, is also part of their care.
The Emrick Center
The Elaine and Peter Emrick Technology Center is a large, two-story brick building. It looks like an old factory. This building has a reception area and exhibit spaces. It also holds offices and the Hugh Moore Park and Museums Archives.
The center opened in 2007. Its first exhibit was about the Lehigh Valley's industrial history. It showed how the region became a powerhouse of industry. In 2012, the National Canal Museum moved here from Two Rivers Landing. Most of the exhibits and hands-on activities were moved too.
The relocated museum opened in May 2012. It is right next to the mule-drawn canal boat, the Josiah White II. The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor took over its operation in 2013. The full merger was completed in 2017.
Archives
The Emrick Technology Center also holds the archives of the National Canal Museum. Since the museum started, it has aimed to preserve the transportation and industrial history of the area. The collection has grown a lot since 1985. It is now a top place for information about canal transportation in America. It also has much information about technology in the Lehigh Valley.
The museum's collection includes many historical items and data. These document the history of America's canals and rivers. They also cover related industries in the Lehigh Valley. The museum has thousands of artifacts, films, photos, and engineering drawings. It also has a large library of books and historical documents.
The museum even has a historian on staff. This person is available for talks, researchers, and questions.
Locktender's House
The Locktender's House is a restored home with a museum on the first floor. It is located between the Lehigh River and Guard Lock 8 on the Lehigh Canal. This house shows what life was like for people in the 1800s and early 1900s.
The house was built for the person who operated the canal lock. It was built very close to the lock. This made sure the locktender could easily come out and operate the lock when needed.
This museum opened in 1974. It is decorated to look like it did in the past. It helps visitors understand what working on the canal was like. Guides in period costumes give tours and share information about the house and canal life.
Josiah White II Canal Boat
The Josiah White II is the boat used today for the canal boat ride. It is a steel boat built in 1993. It was made by Bethlehem Steel in Maryland.
The first canal boat was also named the Josiah White. It operated from 1978 until 1993. It then sank near the canal's feeder gate. Today, the old boat is still there. It helps people see what the original boats looked like during the ride.
The canal boat ride was created to give visitors historical information about the canal. It teaches about building, living, and working on the canal. Two mules, named Hank and George, pull the boat. The ride tries to make you feel what it was like to travel on the canal long ago.
The rides usually last about 40 minutes. They cover many topics, such as:
- Mules and their role
- Mule tenders (the people who cared for the mules)
- Different parts of the canal
- The history of the canal
