Canal Schooner Lois McClure Visits Fort Plain Aug. 3

Free Lecture at Library Aug. 2

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ALBANY, NY (07/30/2010)(readMedia)-- WHEN: Tuesday, August 3, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Lock E-15, Otsquago Club Road, Fort Plain, NY

(From Route 5S to Route 80 [River Road] to Otsquago Club Road)

WHAT: The majestic 88-foot canal schooner Lois McClure arrives in Fort Plain on Monday night, August 2, on a cruise across New York State called the "Our Shared Heritage: World Canals Tour." On Monday, August 2, at 7:30 p.m. a free lecture will be given by Art Cohen, Director of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, at the Fort Plain Library. The authentic replica of an 1862 canal boat will be open for tours, free of charge, on Tuesday, August 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There also will be local art displays and other free community-sponsored events.

WHY: The Lois McClure is on a 1,000-mile summer journey on the "Our Shared Heritage: World Canals Tour." She departed her home port on Lake Champlain on July 22 and will visit 20 historic ports-of-call along the Champlain and Erie Canals, two segments of the modern-day New York State Canal System. The schooner will arrive at the World Canals Conference in Rochester this September before returning to her home port in the fall. The 2010 cruise is a follow up to the successful "Grand Canal Journey" of 2007 which attracted more than 30,000 to the boat. People from New York and worldwide climbed aboard and stepped back in time.

Constructed in Burlington, Vermont, and launched in 2004, the Lois McClure is an exact replica of an 1862 canal schooner designed to sail from lake cities to canal ports using wind power. Upon reaching a canal, the masts were lowered and centerboards raised, transforming the vessel into a typical, shallow-draft canal boat.

The expedition was made possible by a partnership between the New York State Canal Corporation, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, and the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.

See attachments for a description of the Canal Partners and for the full schedule of the schooner Lois McClure.

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