2017 in new York State
a Year of
Milestones
There is always an amazing array of things to see
and do in New York State, but 2017 offers the
opportunity to celebrate a number of once-in-
a-lifetime milestones, making it an exciting year
for locals and visitors alike. Meeting costumed
interpreters, testing your skills at hands-on
exhibits and taking part in historic re-enactments
are just a few of the special activities that will
help bring the Empire State’s storied history
to life. Among the most notable anniversaries
are the bicentennial of the Erie Canal,
the 100 th anniversary of Women’s
Suffrage in New York, the centennial
of U.S. involvement in World War
I and the 150 th anniversary of
Frank Lloyd Wright’s birth.
Here’s a sampling
of the special
celebrations this
year…
200th Anniversary
Bicentennial
M
eet a mule named Sal on the Erie Canal: This
summer marks the 200th anniversary of the
Erie Canal. An engineering marvel for its time,
the canal project created a super highway from New York
City to the developing American West and stimulated
trade, exploration and invention. The canal system forms
an inland waterway spanning upstate New York, flowing
past nearly 200 villages, hamlets and towns. Today, the canals mostly serve recreational
ships, from fishing skiffs and kayaks to historic canal boats, and the barge-towing mules
that once trod the canal-side trails have been replaced by walkers, bicyclists and, in winter,
cross-country skiers on the 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail, spanning from Albany to Buffalo.
The towns established along the canals continue to blossom with annual festivals,
living history re-enactments and hands-on museums that celebrate the canal’s
bicentennial and the region’s rich past:
Ceremonial opening of the erie Canal navigation Season for 2017 occurs in Waterford
Harbor—eastern gateway to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor—on May 19th.
waterford Canal Festival is celebrated on May 20th, with vendors lining the banks of
the Erie Canal and attendees enjoying live music, dance performances, children’s activities,
kayaking, educational walks and presentations. waterfordcanalfest.wordpress.com
For the latest
information
on events and
destinations, check
out www.iloveny.
com/milestones.
Seneca Falls Canal Fest, July 7-9 at
Seneca Falls Canal Harbor in the Finger
Lakes, highlights the beauty of the
Cayuga/Seneca Canal with three days of
fun on the water. Along with Aquacade
and the popular Duck Races, the Corning
Museum Glass Barge will be canal-side
for the entire festival, honoring the
centennial of women’s suffrage with an
all-female glassblowing team.
senecafalls.com/canalfest
80 | 2017 in new york: A yeAr of milestones
Ceremonial erie Canal
Bicentennial Groundbreaking
Celebration at Bellamy Harbor
Park in Rome on July 22.
The all-day event at the
starting point for
construction of the
original 363-mile
canal system will feature a first-dig
re-enactment, an arts and crafts fair,
concerts and fireworks.
eriecanalway.org