Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

09/15/2026

Had a great time screen-printing some Schoharie Crossing shirts as part of our Canal Store Saturday program this past weekend.

09/14/2026

Wite-Out was invented in 1966 – the same year Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site was created.

George Kloosterhouse (a General Electric clerk) and Edwin Johanknecht (a basement waterproofer) developed the original formula for "Wite-Out WO-1 Erasing Liquid" - with the purpose specifically to correct typing errors without leaving smudges on photostatic (photocopied) paper. The official date listed for its first use in commerce was January 27, 1966.

But, there is a deeper story about the creation of correction fluid that starts earlier in the 1950's.
"The inventor of the correcting fluid Liquid Paper was a woman by the name of Bette Nesmith Graham (1924-1980). Her work as a secretary and her background in art were inspiration for her invention." Read the full article here >
https://americacomesalive.com/liquid-paper-for-typists-invented-by-secretary/

09/13/2026

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜
It might not have been uncommon to hear the droning of pipes in the Mohawk Valley during the mid to late 18th century. Especially in the hands of some of Sir William Johnson’s tenants, as highlanders and Scots-Irish emigrants often settled the Baronets lands. Many men that garrisoned Fort Hunter would certainly have been familiar with the ancient sounds of bagpipes.
Charles Lewis Reily wrote to Johnson in 1749, explaining how they were connected by family and business, and apologizing he could not come to Johnson’s home “for the sole purpose of visiting” as he was still under contract to teach. He stated he could come in eight weeks’ time, bringing with him “all my musical instruments, Fiddle German, flute, Hautboy [oboe] & Bagpipes.”
James Thomas Flexner wrote in Mohawk Baronet: A Biography of Sir William Johnson, that Johnson “gathered around him a group of merry Irishmen…Charles Lewis Riley (Reily), a one-time pedagogue, served as jester and universal genius: he made pleasure carriages, swore in Latin, and, as he boasted, played “…the bagpipes.”

Images:
1. Peter Henderson (1851-1903), a bagpipe maker in Glasgow
2. Excerpt from The Papers of Sir William Johnson, Volume 1
Letter from Charles Lewis Reily, sent from Goshen, Orange
County. August 24, 1749
3. Charles Lewis Reily, Goshen, New York, to William Johnson,
"Mohawk Castle," Albany County, New York, 24 August 1749
(Written in Latin)

09/13/2026

From the Vault: WCNY PBS first aired this documentary in October of 2017, launching some of the Erie Canal Bicentennial commemorations that wrapped up with the Buffalo Maritime Center's historic voyage of the Seneca Chief replica in 2025. Check out this wonderful hour long production covering the history and impact of the Erie Canal.

https://www.pbs.org/video/erie-the-canal-that-made-america-ifzsqf/

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor | Canal Society of New York State
Historic Erie Canal | American Canal Society

The Erie Canal, America’s 19th century engineering marvel, and the promise of a new nation

09/12/2026

📢HEADS UP!📢 Fishing Tournament Season is upon us!
It is that time of year, the Schoharie Aqueduct Boat Launch can get pretty busy with bass tournaments.* Please be aware that over the next several weekends there are scheduled tournaments at our launch location on Hartley Lane. Plan accordingly if you're looking to stop into the site to picnic, bike, paddle, boat, or check out our exciting Erie Canal History.

For those of you participating as contestants, please note - a *DEC permit and a NYSOPRHP/Schoharie Crossing permit is required to conduct a tournament from the Schoharie Aqueduct Boat Launch on Hartley Lane ‼

09/11/2026

Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend at Schoharie Crossing!
We're inviting Girl Scouts to show up at Schoharie Crossing for this wonderful weekend and have them show how much they love NYS Parks!
We have fun events and activities planned but you can also come enjoy the historic site and park from dawn to dusk each day. We have miles of walking trails, adjoin the Empire State/Canalway Bike Path, have a boat-launch that is perfect for kayaking/canoeing, there is wonderful birdwatching and plant identification that can happen here as well as the history. Be sure to stop in at the Visitor Center and Museum on Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter while you're on site.

Thank you Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York and NY State Parks & Historic Sites
More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1683695409356891

09/10/2026

From September 19-28, 2026, disability advocate Ian Mackay is coming to the Erie Canalway Trail to ride his power wheelchair from Buffalo to Albany. Mackay is the founder and executive director of Ian’s Ride, a nonprofit organization based in Washington State dedicated to advocating for outdoor accessibility, recreation, and connected trails.

Join Ian along his journey to get some Canalway Challenge miles in. For people with disabilities and mobility challenges, this ride is great opportunity to earn your 1st Mile and get inspired by Ian and his team.

LEARN MORE >>

In 2016 I had the audacious plan to ride my wheelchair across the state of Washington that we called “Ian’s Ride”. Little did I know that that ride would lead to a nonprofit, countless hours of peer support, a Guinness World Record, and crossing over a half-dozen states in my wheelchair. Now h...

09/09/2026

Packet boat travel in the early canal era was similar to use of public transportation today. Schedules and routes would be listed in travel guides and newspapers. Passengers would secure travel by boarding and paying the agent or boat captain. There was always a “connection” that could be caught to make it to another mode of transportation, either stage or steamer.

09/08/2026

It's STAR TREK DAY!
What do Star Trek and Schoharie Crossing have in common?
They both began 60 years ago!

We hope you, and the Erie Canal, continues to Live Long and Prosper!

09/06/2026

The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon began in 1966, raising $1M.
That was SIXTY Years Ago! The same year that Schoharie Crossing was established as a New York State Historic Site

The first national Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon was conducted in 1966 and aired from WNEW-TV Metromedia Channel 5 in New York City. Created by Jerry and then Channel 5 General Manager, Larry Fraiberg, the annual fundraising telethon lasted until 2014. The final telethon raised $56.9 million. Over its historic 49-year run, the annual event raised a grand total of over $2.45 billion to fight muscular dystrophy.