The Grand Canal Journey -- the Erie Canal
Lois McClure and her tugboat C.L. Churchill
towing through the Champlain Canal.
The Grand Canal Journey of the Lois McClure has come full circle. The replica 1862 canal schooner left her home port at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum on June 18, 2007 to travel across the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Since then, she has stopped at more than 25 ports of call for tours, festivals, and celebration as she completes her 1,000 mile voyage through the heart of Upstate New York.
The Grand Canal Journey commemorated and celebrated the nationally significant Erie Canalway and New York’s contribution to the formation of the American nation. The 524-mile canal system, over 180 years old, is an engineering marvel that knitted together New England, New York, and the west, spreading commerce and ideas. The journey also showcases today’s canalside communities and the many historic, cultural, natural, and recreational assets they offer.
Map of the Erie Canal in New York State.
Click to download the full .pdf version, courtesy of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
| July 2 July 3 |
11am-6pm 10am-6pm |
Ithaca, NY Ithaca, NY |
Aug. 26–27 | 10am-6pm |
Rome | |
| July 7-8 | 10am-6pm |
Seneca Falls | Aug. 29 | 10am-6pm |
Utica | |
| July 10–11 | TBA |
Geneva | Aug. 30 | 3pm-7pm |
Herkimer | |
| July 14 | 10am-6pm |
Lyons | Aug. 31 | 3pm-6pm |
Little Falls | |
July 17 |
12pm - 6pm 10am-6pm |
Pittsford | Sept. 1 | 10am-6pm |
Little Falls | |
| July 21–22 | 10am-6pm |
Medina | Sept. 2 | 5pm-7pm |
Canajoharie | |
| July 24–25 | 10am-6pm |
Lockport | Sept. 4 | 10am-6pm |
Amsterdam | |
| July 28–29 | 10am-6pm |
Buffalo | Sept. 7–9 | 10am-5pm |
Waterford Tugboat Roundup | |
| July 31 | 10am-6pm |
Tonawanda | Sept. 10 | 12pm - 3pm |
Troy | |
| Aug.1 | 11am-6pm |
North Tonawanda | Sept. 11–12 | 12pm-6pm |
Albany | |
| Aug. 4–5 | 10am-6pm |
Brockport | Sept. 13 | 3pm-6pm |
Mechanicville | |
| Aug. 7–8 | TBA |
Rochester | Sept. 15–16 | 10am-6pm |
Schuylerville | |
| Aug. 9 | 3pm-7pm |
Fairport | Sept. 18 Sept. 19 |
2pm-6pm 3pm-5pm |
Fort Edward | |
| Aug. 11–12 | 10am-6pm |
Palmyra | Sept. 21 | 3pm-5pm |
Whitehall | |
| Aug. 17–18 | 10am-6pm |
Syracuse | Sept. 22 | 10am-6pm |
Whitehall | |
| Aug. 21–22 | 10am-6pm |
Oswego | Sept 24 | 4:30pm - 6pm |
Welcome Home Party at Basin Harbor, VT | |
| Sept. 24 - Oct 14 | 10am-5pm |
Basin Harbor, VT |
Lockingthroughthe New York State Canal System.
Photo courtesy Ed Burke.
The Grand Canal Journey was made possible through a partnership among the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the New York State Canal Corporation, and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, with support from numerous sponsors, including: National Grid, KeySpan, Pride of New York, Cabot and McCadam Cheese, Brookfield Power, and Saratoga Water.
The Lois McClure Grand Canal Journey was a Partnership of
Lois McClure Sponsors:
And also made possible by these supporters:
Basin Harbor Club • Honda Marine • Champlain Quadricentennial Commission • Tom's Marine • Vermont Tent Company • The McClure Family • Point Bay Marina
If you are interested in learning about the benefits of becoming a sponsor for the schooner Lois McClure, or for any of our other events and opportunities, call Helena VanVoorst, Development Director, at (802) 475-2022, ext. 105.
