Canal Schooner Lois McClure to Make Final Stop at Waterford Harbor

WHEN: Sunday, October 3, 2010, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Waterford Harbor Visitor's Center, 1 Tugboat Alley, Waterford, NY 12188

WHAT: The majestic 88-foot canal schooner Lois McClure, arrives in Waterford on Sunday, October 3, as it returns from the 2010 World Canals Conference held ealier this month in Rochester, N.Y. The 1862 replica canal boat joins the community and the Waterford Farmer's Market in her final port of call on the "Our Shared Heritage: World Canals Tour." The McClure will be open for free public tours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to the Farmer's Market, Waterford native Russell W.D. Van Dervoort will be at the Harbor to sign copies of his just released book "Canal Canaries," a chronicle of the Van Dervoort family memoirs about life on the canal.

The expedition is 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.

WHY: The canal schooner replica Lois McClure, embarked on a 1,000 mile journey this summer, "Our Shared Heritage: World Canals Tour," sailing from her home port on Lake Champlain to visit 20 historic ports-of-call along the Erie Canal and the New York State Canal System. "Our Shared Heritage: World Canals Tour" began in July and culminated in September, arriving at the World Canals Conference in Rochester. The 2010 journey is a follow up to the successful 2007 "Grand Canal Journey," when more then 30,000 people stepped back into history during a visit to the McClure.

Please see the attachment for a description of the Canal Partners for the "World Canals Tour."

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