NYS Canal Corporation, Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center Announce Sixth Annual CanalWays Program

The New York State Canal Corporation and the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center today announced the Sixth Annual CanalWays program for local fourth grade classes will take place Tuesday, June 2, 2009, through Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at stations surrounding the Waterford Visitors Center on the Erie Canal in Waterford, NY.

The CanalWays Program, featuring the Canal Corporation's Tug Urger and Grand Erie, is a joint educational program developed in conjunction with the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center, and the Town of Waterford to promote the history of the Erie Canal. In 2009, the six-day program is expected to host more than 500 school children from the Capital Region.

Participating students will spend roughly four hours in Waterford, visiting five different stations, including the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center, the Waterford Visitors Center, the Tug Urger, a ride aboard the Grand Erie, and a narrated walk along the towpath. While at each site, the students will have the opportunity to learn about the local maritime history of Waterford and the significant role the Canal System has played in the Capital Region and in the development of New York State and the nation.

Members of the media, including photographers, are invited to attend.

For more information regarding the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL-4.

For more information about this program, please contact the Waterford Museum at (518) 238-0809 or visit www.waterfordmuseum.com

Directions to Lock E-2 in Waterford: Take the NYS Thruway to Interchange 23 to I-787 and continue northbound to the end. Turn right onto Route 32 (Saratoga Avenue) north over bridge into Waterford. Follow Saratoga Avenue to the end (it will become 9th Street) and cross bridge over Erie Canal. Bear right sharply onto Broad Street and head toward Village. Just after passing St. Mary's Church on left, cross small bridge over old Champlain Canal. Take an immediate right after the bridge at the sign for Lock 2, onto the Lock 2 access road. Cross over small bridge over spillway and park in parking lot by Lock house. Lock 2 also is within a short walk of the Waterford Visitor Center and promenade.

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The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.