The Canal Boat Museum at Chittenango was one of the highlights of our trip.There were three dry docks along the old Erie Canal at Chittenango where canal boats were built and repaired. They wereabandoned about 1875. Over the years the structures became completely covered over. Starting in 1985, a group of people in the town decided to try to excavate the dry docks and buildings and restore them. They had little support from the state and on their own raised money. They had help from archeologists and found the locations of the drydocks and completely rebuilt them. They rebuilt an old store and a machine and blacksmith shop. Now they have become quite an educational resource with elder hostel and school groups coming. They are getting state help now and are attempting to raise money for an
educational building. Everything was done by volunteers and they enjoy talking
to people and showing them around. It was the nicest stop on the trip.
