Local and state organizations are marking the bicentennial of the opening of the Erie Canal with educational programs and celebratory events throughout this year. It’s expected that the pace of scheduling will pick up following the mid-May opening of the NYS Canal System navigation season.
Here is a listing of locally based, or easily accessible, free, bicentennial-inspired programs being presented in the month of April.
— “From Idea to Icon: How the Erie Canal Shaped a Nation,” presentation by James Lester, executive director of the Niagara History Center, 6 to 7 p.m. April 3 at Historic Palace Theatre, 2 East Ave. Lester will discuss the canal’s construction, its impact on trade and settlement, its role in shaping Niagara County, New York State and the United States. (Hosted by the Niagara History Center)
— “Reflections on the Erie Canal,” a video series, debuts April 12 at www.wmht.org/eriecanal/. This series produced by WMHT Public Media, the PBS affiliate based in Schenectady, examines the canal’s broad impact in New York state and beyond in 10 five-to-seven-minute videos (a new “episode” is to be released each week), and these can be streamed on demand. The episodes feature a blend of historical content, such as a look at Indigenous communities disrupted by the canal’s construction and the canal’s use by freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad, lessons in mechanics such as how a canal lock works and how the waterway is maintained, economic impact including how current-day businesses are establishing recreational opportunities along the canal, and lifestyle pieces highlighting the canal’s connection to arts, culture, nature and wildlife. NYS Canal Corporation is a partner in the series.
— “Freedom’s Waterway: The Erie Canal and the Underground Railroad,” lecture by Joshua Poole, operations manager of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, 6 to 7 p.m. April 22 at Historic Palace Theatre, 2 East Ave. Poole will show how the canal provided routes and resources for fleeing slaves, and the canal’s impact on the abolitionist movements of the 19th century. (Hosted by the Niagara History Center)
— “Divided Waters: The Haudenosaunee and the Erie Canal’s Legacy,” presentation by Vince Schiffert, a cultural educator for Tuscarora Nation. Schiffert will discuss the Indigenous perspective on the canal’s construction, its enduring legacy and its effect on Native communities. (Hosted by the Niagara History Center)
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To add an event to this ongoing listing, email the details to joyce.miles@lockportjournal.com.