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Visitor Center
Schoharie Crossing's Visitor Center and Museum on Schoharie Street is open for the season! The hours will be Wednesday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday's 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
Yankee Hill
Our lovely Yankee Hill Lock Picnic Area is open from sunrise to sunset daily at 550 Queen Anne Rd, Amsterdam, NY 12010.
Aqueduct Boat Launch
The Aqueduct Boat Launch area is open from sunrise to sunset daily at
the end of Hartley Lane, Town of Glen, off NYS Route 5-South. Come see the
stabilization of the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct while recreating at this historic
site.
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the Erie Canal as one of the 19th century's greatest commercial and engineering projects. The Visitor Center exhibit traces the history of the Erie Canal and its impact on the growth of New York State and the nation.
Within the site's boundaries are many structures dating from the three eras of the canal's development. At the eastern end of the site is the Putnam Lock Stand at Yankee Hill that houses an exhibit on Erie Canal stores. The site's largest structure is the remains of the Schoharie Aqueduct, which carried the water of the Enlarged Erie Canal over the Schoharie Creek.
Schoharie Crossing is also the location of 18th century Fort Hunter and the Lower Castle Mohawk village. See artifacts from that portion of our history on display at the Visitor Center.
Stop into the Visitor Center to orient yourself to the site, check out the exhibit space and gift shop.
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site offers educational outreach programs as well as an on-site school field trips and special events.
Pavilion Information
Schoharie Crossing has three event tents (approximately 20'x 20') available. Prices range from $50 to $75 and can accommodate up to 25 people. Please check availability and request special use permit information by contacting the site before reserving on ReserveAmerica.com.
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 140 Fort Hunter, NY 12069
Hours of Operation
- Schoharie Crossing's Museum and Visitor Center at 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter, NY is closed for the season; however, group visits can still be arranged by calling 518-829-7516 or emailing: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov. Guided tours are available by advance reservation only and are $3 per adult, $2 per senior or student, 12 and under are free with paying adult or senior.
- The Schoharie Creek Aqueduct Boat Launch and the Yankee Hill dock are also closed for the season.
- The Schoharie Creek Aqueduct Picnic Area and Yankee Hill Lock picnic area as well as all our grounds are open from sunrise to sunset daily. Permits are required for gatherings of more than 20 persons.
- Interpretive signs throughout the grounds of Schoharie Crossing provide information on the various canal features and pre-canal history of the site.
- We will be open select days in the off season. Please follow us on Facebook for updates.
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Fees & Rates
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site does not charge a vehicle fee
Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.
The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.
- Admission
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There is no admission fee however some fees apply for special events, educational services, tours and the use of picnic areas.
$3 per person for guided tours (available by reservation)
Contact the site for Student Group rates and options. Outreach program rates and topics are available by request."
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Maps
New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.
Our
museum exhibit, "Pathway to Empire: How the Erie Canal Helped Build
America" helps mark the Bicentennial Celebrations of the Erie Canal.
This exhibit highlights the major themes associated with the history of
the canal and illustrates them with interesting artifacts and interactive
displays. A major focal point of the exhibit is a scale model of the
Schoharie Creek Aqueduct and Lock 30, along with the Browns Cash Store
that once stood along the canal here in Fort Hunter, NY. By using
artifacts and primary documents, this exhibit delves into the geology, social
and economic impacts, political motivations, and engineering of the
nationally significant and historic waterway we know as the Erie Canal.
With its rich history, the canal continues to play a critical role in the
lives of all New Yorkers and Americans to this day.
Inside of our Visitor Center exhibit you can also view panels on the
pre-canal history of the site. This portion of our museum highlights the Mohawk
Village known as Tiononderoge and the Haudenosaunee people who occupied these
lands for generations before the American Revolution. The panels also explore
the British Colonial fort that once existed along the banks of the Schoharie
Creek. Witness artifacts that were excavated onsite that help tell the story of
this era of New York and American History.
In partnership with the United States Geological Survey, there are
panels that illustrate the historic water conditions of the Schoharie Creek and
Mohawk River. This exhibit demonstrates the immense power of water and the
destructive nature of flooding in the valleys.
Featured on the east end of the historic site at Yankee Hill Lock is
the Putman Canal Store. The building is undergoing a restoration assessment and
will be closed to the general public for 2023. We expect restoration work to
happen in 2024.The grounds of Yankee Hill remain open at this time.
History at Home: Queens of Quackery! with Kayla Whitehouse
Thursday, March 21, 2024 07:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Our 4th Annual History at
Home Third Thursday Lecture series will happen via WebEx. We will have amazing
presentations offered to you again this year. Join us on March 21st for
"Queens of Quackery!Female
Proprietors of Patent Medicines"
with Kayla Whitehouse of the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, NY. This
presentation on the era of patent medicines, will focus on female proprietors
and will cover the history of patent medicines, typical patent medicine
bottles, and some of the more infamous women who made history selling medicines
and tonics during that time. No pre-registration is
required. If you'd like the link sent directly to you, please contact the site.
The program is free and open to the public. Questions? Let us know by
calling or emailing: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, (518) 829-7516.
Museum Monday – April’s Fools
Monday, April 1, 2024 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us on Fools Day! We'll
offer up five stories from our archives except one is a total foolish lie! Can
you spot the fake? The Schoharie Crossing Museum
space will be open* at 11am and the discussion will happen at 11:30am. We'll
keep the doors open until 1pm for visitors to check out the Pathway to Empire
exhibit and engage in conversations around the artifacts within. *Unless the weather prohibits
opening. Questions? Let us know by
calling or emailing: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, (518) 829-7516.
Erie Canal Songs with Cosby & Tom
Saturday, April 13, 2024 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us as we host the
amazing Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudle for this history song program! They will
perform canal songs and share the history of the Erie Canal with you. The Erie Canal was the most
important advancement in the 1800's for the transportation of goods in New York
state. Running from Buffalo to Albany and connected to the Hudson River, it
allowed New York City to become the largest trade port in the nation. And, it
was born from an idea of a merchant in debtor's prison, because they couldn't
receive their goods fast enough to pay bills! For adults and older
children, about 40 minutes. Free program. Meet at Enders House, Schoharie
Street.
Clean Up at the Confluence
Saturday, April 20, 2024 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us for the 2024 Canal
Clean Sweep! Here and all along the Canalway, folks are getting out to clean up
along the waterway! Show your excitement this spring by helping us clean up
along the confluence! Where the Schoharie meets the Mohawk, let's clean up the
trash, debris, junk, stuff, litter, and more along the creek and riverbank near
the Aqueduct Boat Launch and also the Fort Hunter Community Park. We'll meet at the Visitor
Center/Museum to sign in, hand out supplies, then give a quick introduction and
instructions before deploying to those locations. All the trash will be placed
for the NYS Canal Corp to pick up. To Register,
click HERE for the link. We strongly suggest you wear
sturdy water-resistant boots, hefty work gloves and clothes for the weather.
Cinema Sunday Matinee – 1935 Film
Sunday, April 28, 2024 02:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us as we screen a
classic 1935 film for our Cinema Sunday Matinee series. We know you'll be
Fond-a this flick, sharing the schmaltzy story of love along the Erie Canal. The movie runs 90 minutes and
there will be time before and after for some questions or commentary about the
film with its local connections through history and leading man. This is a free event, however
donations to the Friends of Schoharie Crossing are graciously accepted. Popcorn
and beverages will be available. Meet at Enders House, Schoharie
Street.