Historic and Cultural Sites and Museums

The Hudson River and Erie Canal transformed cities from Troy to Rome into industrial and commercial powerhouses in the 19th and early 20th centuries. A great variety of cultural and historic sites preserve the region’s rich heritage from early settlement to present day.
 

Putman's Canal Store and the Enlarged Erie Canal at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter.

Albany Heritage Area Visitor Center Visitor center and exhibits which trace four centuries of Albany's history from fur-trading post to center for world trade, finance, and government. Visit Site »

Albany Institute of History & Art Showcases a premier collection of art and historical artifacts. See original drawings by Robert Fulton, paintings by E.L. Henry, and hand drawn maps of the Erie Canal. The Institute’s research library houses primary source materials, including maps, photos, documents, and manuscripts related to the Erie Canal. An online resource collection will be launched in June 2012.  Visit Site »

New York State Museum Science, education, art exhibits, and programs for all ages. The museum's collections include scientific and historical material of national and international importance. Visit Site »

New York State Archives Large collection of historical documents and maps related to the construction and management of the Erie Canal. Programs for students incorporate the use of original documents. Visit Site »

Schuyler-Mansion State Historic Site 1761 mansion, home to noted Revolutionary War General Philip Schuyler. Schuyler is credited as the "Father of New York canals" for his promotion of the Western and Northern Inland Lock Navigation Companies during the 1790s. Guided tours, visitor center. Visit Site »

Watervliet Shaker National Historic District Site of America's first Shaker settlement. Exhibition, gift shop, self guided tour of seven historic structures, garden, orchard, and cemetery where founder Ann Lee is buried. visit site >>

Walter Elwood Museum at Guy Park Manor The museum carries on one man's passion for collecting, documenting and understanding diverse cultures and the natural world. Educator and world traveler Walter Elwood's (1886-1955) collection includes an extensive assortment of nearly 25,000 objects, including multicultural, Victorian, natural history, and items that relate to Mohawk Valley's industrial past. Visit Site »

Arkell Museum Includes exhibitions on American art and Mohawk Valley history. Paintings by American artists such as Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam, Robert Henri, Maurice Prendergast, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Visit Site »

RiverSpark Heritage Area Visitor Center Located on the first floor of the historic Cohoes Music Hall; exhibits, film, and interactive programs. Visit Site »

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Walk along the original Erie Canal (1825) and Enlarged Erie Canal (1841). Tour the visitor center and canal store at historic Lock 28. Hike, bike, and picnic on the banks of the present-day canal.

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Fort Plain Free Library Showcases Fort Plain's canal heritage and serves as a Welcome Center for visitors in a restored 1800s house. Close to Lock E15 and the Erie Canalway Trail. visit site >>

Herkimer's Historic Four Corners Composed of 1884 Herkimer County Historical Society Suiter Building, 1834 Herkimer County Jail, 1873 Herkimer County Courthouse, and the 1834 Herkimer Reformed Church. visit site >>

little Falls

Herkimer Home State Historic Site Features the colonial days of Palatine German settlement in the Mohawk Valley at the 18th-century farmstead of Revolutionary War hero, General Nicholas Herkimer. Visit Site »

Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site Historic Site The Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, has been described as one of the bloodiest battles of the War of Independence. A monument was dedicated on August 6, 1884 and the site was designated a New York State historic site in 1927. Visit Site »

Fort Stanwix National Monument Restored 18th century frontier fort played a pivotal role during the Revolutionary War; located at the strategic Oneida Carrying Place along the Mohawk River. Museum/visitor center includes exhibits, audiovisual presentations, a public event space, and bookstore.

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Erie Canal Village Outdoor living history museum; reconstructed 19th century settlement on the site where the first shovelful of earth was turned for the construction of the original Erie Canal on July 4, 1817. Visit Site »

Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium Exhibits celebrate science, invention, and imagination and explore the area's rich technological heritage. Canal-related programs include historic district tours and downtown revitalization activities. Visit Site »

Schenectady County Historical Society History Museum and Mabee Farm Historic Site Learn about the impact of the Erie Canal on Schenectady at the museum, located in Schenectady's Stockade District.. The Mabee Farm is a 300+ year old Dutch farm along the banks of the Mohawk River on Route 5S in Rotterdam Junction. See the site's historic bateaux and replica 1614 Dutch ship Onrust.

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Burden Iron Works Museum & Hudson-Mohawk Gateway Visitor center and exhibits launch your visit to downtown Troy, the greater Troy area, or to the entire Hudson-Mohawk Heritage Area.

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