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The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission is pleased to announce Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum in Chittenango as the recipient of the 2010 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence. Honorable Mention was awarded to the Historical Murals of Lyons in Wayne County and the Mohawk Towpath Byway, which stretches from Waterford and Cohoes to Schenectady.

“We congratulate and thank this year’s recipients for doing so much to celebrate, preserve, and share the rich history of the Erie Canal,” said Joseph Callahan, Chair of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission. “These are not only great places to visit—each has a valuable story to tell about how preserving our heritage can go hand-in-hand with economic and community revitalization.”

The Heritage Award honors significant places of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and recognizes excellence in advancing the goals of the Erie Canalway Preservation and Management Plan. A five-person independent jury selected award recipients based on a written application and site visit, which included meetings with officials at each site, as well as community leaders, municipal representatives, and other stakeholders.

“Through the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor elements of the Grand Canal system, its past and present, have become united. The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum appreciates the honor of being publically recognized as one of the Corridor’s integral assets, thus defining the story of the historic dry dock and 19th century canal boat technology,” said Joan DiChristina, Executive Director at Chittenango Landing.

Heritage award recipients will be recognized at an award ceremony on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 9:30 am at Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum in Chittenango. The ceremony will precede the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission annual meeting at 10:30 am.

For more information about the award and photographs of this year’s recipients, visit www.eriecanalway.org.
ABOUT THE RECIPIENTS

2010 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence

Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Chittenango
The Heritage Award of Excellence recognizes Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum for 25 years of active archaeological excavation and reconstruction of a buried three bay drydock where canal boats were built and repaired on the Erie Canal from 1855 to 1920. What was once an overgrown canalside lot, now showcases the only remaining boatyard on the canal, as well as a restored canal-side store, full-sized canal boat exhibit, sawmill, blacksmith, and woodworking shop, and visitor education center.

Especially noteworthy is the fact that this 25 year “labor of love” has been carried out entirely by volunteers, with guidance from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. A dedicated group of founding members continues to serve, while more than 125 volunteers contribute to the museum’s education programs, restoration efforts, and ongoing maintenance. In addition, community groups such as the local Rotary, Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and others offer vital in-kind services and financial support.

As the only historic site of its kind in New York State, Chittenango Landing is a “must do” travel experience for visitors to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. The museum offers a full slate of events and educational programs throughout the year and serves more than 30 school districts. It is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.

The museum is publically celebrating its 25th anniversary during its Canal Fest on June 20. The event will feature boat building construction, music, teen group mini-plays, many children’s activities, sit-down chicken barbecue, and more; www.chittenangolandingcanalboatmuseum.com.

2010 Honorable Mention

Historical Murals of Lyons, Lyons
Historical scenes depicting life on the Erie Canal can be found on 25 buildings from Syracuse to Palmyra, thanks to a grassroots mural project begun in Lyons, New York. The epicenter of “Mural Mania” boasts eight murals, located within an easy walk of the canal and the Village of Lyon’s Main Street.

The jury selected the project not only for its dedication to sharing history through public art, but for its contribution to community revitalization in Lyons. The murals have engaged new audiences, including
at-risk youth, students, community organizations, and residents. Further, the murals are spurring visitors to take a closer look not only at the artwork, but at the restaurants, shops, and cultural heritage sites in Lyons and throughout the central and western part of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. www.muralmania.org

Mohawk Towpath Byway, Waterford and Cohoes to Schenectady
Successful collaboration among eight municipalities is helping to preserve and showcase significant scenic, recreational, and historic resources along the Mohawk Towpath Byway. The Byway is a network of local, county, state, and federal highways that follow the historic route of the Erie Canal from Waterford and Cohoes to Schenectady, New York.

Since its inception in 2002, the Mohawk Towpath Byway Coalition has leveraged thousands of dollars in federal, state, and private funding to assist municipalities with improving visitor access and services. Interpretive signs, expanded bicycling and hiking trails, and a visitor guide tie together multiple attractions and share noteworthy stories of invention, innovation, and expansion that have shaped the region for hundreds of years.  http://mohawktowpath.homestead.com/


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