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Celebrating 200 Years of Innovation, Determination, and Making Waves in American History

High-Resolution Exhibition Files Now Available for Learning Institutions at No Cost!

The New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education is making history more accessible than ever! Its world-class team of researchers is honoring the 200th anniversary of one of the largest and most remarkable public works projects in American history by bringing the Erie Canal’s legacy directly to New York State schools and other cultural institutions. “Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal” is an eight-panel exhibition carefully curated by the New York State Museum to bring the astonishing story of the canal to life, celebrating its visionary inception, ambitious construction, and bicentennial commemoration. 

Completed on October 26, 1825, the Erie Canal transformed New York into the nation's leading hub of international commerce, reshaping the state's economic and cultural landscape forever. This exhibition explores the canal's remarkable development and its role in establishing New York as the most powerful center of trade in the country.  

To further honor the Erie Canal’s storied past and bring the New York State Museum’s unparalleled resources directly to residents across the state, high-resolution digital files of the educational exhibition are now available for institutions interested in sharing the legacy of the iconic waterway with the public. 

Interim Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, Michael Mastroianni said, "We know it’s not always possible for schools and cultural organizations to visit Albany and experience our new exhibitions in person. That’s why we’re bringing the State Museum to every corner of New York. This exhibition ensures all children, families, and communities across the state can learn and engage with the Erie Canal’s incredible legacy, no matter where they are."   

Chief Curator of History Dr. Jennifer Lemak said, “Part of the State Museum’s core mission is to ensure New York’s rich cultural and natural heritage is accessible, regardless of where you are located. “Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal” helps bring the expertise of Museum historians and curators directly to students and lifelong learners alike. We look forward to seeing this impactful, educational resource used to further celebrate and acknowledge the innovation and determination involved in the creation of the Erie Canal.”  

The eight panels are offered in two sizes, 24 inches wide by 36 inches high or 36 inches wide by 48 inches high. While the files are available at no cost, venues are responsible for printing and mounting the panels at their own expense. 

In addition, the Museum’s website offers resources for educators, including on the previous exhibit commemorating the bicentennial of the Erie Canal’s construction, which was displayed from September 2017 to July 2020. 

Anyone interested in displaying “Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal” is asked to e-mail the New York State Museum at nysmhistory@nysed.gov.

About the Cultural Education Center

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the  New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter. 

The New York State Library, established in 1818, is the largest state library system in the nation and one of the largest research libraries in North America. It oversees a vast network of more than 7,000 libraries statewide. Collections are made available onsite and through a robust interlibrary loan program. The Library’s mission is advanced through several key divisions, including the Research Library, which houses a collection of over 20 million items, the Talking Book and Braille Library, and the Division of Library Development. The Library preserves and maintains invaluable historical collections and works, and serves as a Regional Depository for federal publications. Additionally, the State Library is the official repository of New York State government publications, ensuring their enduring preservation and accessibility for future generations. For more information, please visit the New York State Library website and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.  

Established in 1971, the New York State Archives has amassed one of the most extensive and historically significant state archive collections in the nation. The Archives manages, preserves, and provides open access to over 250 million colonial and New York State records dating back to the 1630s. In addition, the Archives provides records and archival management services to nearly 4,500 counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, and other local governments across New York State. The Archives offers technical assistance, training, and grants to non-government repositories through the Documentary Heritage Program and Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY). Researchers can access public records through the Archives’ online Digital Collections or by appointment on the 11th floor of the Cultural Education Center. For more information, please visit www.archives.nysed.gov. 

The Archives Partnership Trust, a 501(c)3 organization, works to advance New York State History by making the voices within over 350 years of records accessible, relevant, and heard. Education, preservation, and outreach programs unite scholars, students, and the interested public in the discovery, interpretation, and promotion of our shared history. Programs created and supported by the Trust include: ConsidertheSourceNY.org; Larry J. Hackman Research Residency Program; Student Research Awards; countless preservation projects to help stabilize and rehabilitate fragile records; and outreach programs such as New York Archives Magazine, the Empire State Archives and History Award, and other public education programs. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive timely updates.  

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.    

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