The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. . , [ Side 1: ] , The Erie Canal, along with the Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga Seneca canals, is known internationally as the most historically significant and influential canal system in North America. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor follows the path of these famous canals and depends upon a network of partnerships to link the past, present, and future. It helps preserve history, provide recreational and educational opportunities, foster economic revitalization, and improve the quality of life along the Canalway., Places to Remember , National heritage corridors are special places designated by Congress. Each is distinctive, selected because it illustrates a sigaificant chapter in the American experience. Hundreds of corridor features and a wealth of individual stories remind us of human events, often shaped by geography, that influenced the course of American history., National heritage corridors rest on the premise that preservation is a joint effort - governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals all become partners. Each brings talent and resources to the task of remembering the past., Places to Live , A national heritage corridor is not only a monument to the past. It is alive with tradition. Residents are proud of their past and many have invested years. of effort in preserving the distinctive character of their communities., The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is a perfect example of these qualities. The Corridor's cultural and natural resources help enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike. Recreational opportunities - hiking, bicycling, and boating along the corridor's canals - are never far from home., Places for Tomorrow , National heritage corridors are not created for nostalgia alone. They exist for tomorrow. They protect corridor environments so they will be good places to live. They keep traditions alive to provide the cultural roots to help anchor society., Many partners serve on the Erie Canalway NHC Commission. Both the National Park Service and New York State provide advice and support. The Commission is taking the lead in crafting a vision for this national heritage corridor's future., [ Photo and Map Captions: ] , - The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor includes villages, towns and cities along the 524 mile-long system of the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals. It includes 200 communities and parts of 21 counties. , - A picturesque walk on the Oswego Canal , - Preserving the Erie Canalway historic past is a key element of the preservation and management plan of the Corridor. , - A “side-cut” on the enlarged Champlain Canal near Waterford, c. 1890 , - Bicycle and pedestrian paths along most of the Canalway provide recreation for people of all ages. , - Educational programs on the tugboat “Urger” , - Fairport Canal Days , - Erie Canal Museum at Syracuse, [ Side 2: ] , The Canal System , Welcome to the NYS Canal System, one of the world's premier inland waterways. The 524-mile Canal System includes the legendary Erie Canal, and the Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals. The waterways travel through New Yorks heartland, gliding past lush farmland, famous battlefields, charming canal towns and thriving wildlife preserves. The canals can also be enjoyed along hundreds of miles of Canalway Trail and at numerous parks and picnic areas across the system. Along this historic corridor, pleasure boaters, paddlers, history enthusiasts, hikers and bicyclists alike delight in unlocking the legend of New York's canals., The New York State Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York State Thruway Authority, operates the New York State Canal System. For more information call: 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit our website at www.canals.state.nyas