Downtown in Syracuse in Onondaga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Gateway to the World

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2019

1. Gateway to the World Marker

Inscription. The Erie Canal did much more than link the cities of Albany and Buffalo.

It opened America's midwestern heartland to European immigrants entering New York Harbor. The Weighlock Building, the only one remaining in the world, was built in 1850 to weigh canal boats at the junction of the Erie and Oswego Canals.

Locktender’s Garden
Locktenders at 83 liftlocks and 7 weighlocks worked around the clock serving canallers, passing on the news to travelers, and selling provisions. Their gardens included kitchen produce, apothecary herbs, and flowers.

The garden to your right is typical of those found along the canal. It was created by the Syracuse Garden Club, with generous support from Pass & Seymour/Legrand Corporation, in 1971. The Syracuse Garden Club's design for the locktender's garden received national recognition from the Garden Club of America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 43° 3.036′ N, 76° 8.942′ W. Marker is in Syracuse,

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New York, in Onondaga County. It is in Downtown. It is on East Water Street just east of Montgomery Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located along the sidewalk, near the southwest corner of the Erie Canal Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 318 Erie Boulevard East, Syracuse NY 13202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and specifically in Central New York.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Why a Weighlock? (here, next to this marker); Gardening Along the Erie Canal (a few steps from this marker); Erie Boulevard Was Once the Erie Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); How Much Does a Canal Boat Weigh? (within shouting distance

Gateway to the World Marker (<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2019

2. Gateway to the World Marker (tall view)

of this marker); Pitts Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Locks (within shouting distance of this marker); Erie Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); Double Enders (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Syracuse.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Erie Canal Weighlock

Gateway to the World Marker • <i>(back side)<br>(Erie Canal Museum in the background)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2019

3. Gateway to the World Marker • (back side)
(Erie Canal Museum in the background)

Locktender's Garden<br>(<i>located near marker, on west side of the Erie Canal Museum</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2019

4. Locktender's Garden
(located near marker, on west side of the Erie Canal Museum)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 322 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 7, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.