Know Before You Go...
More Info
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
Visitor Center and Museum on Schoharie Street is open for the 2023 season. The hours will be Wednesday through Saturday
10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday's 1:00pm to 5:00pm.
The Schoharie Creek
Aqueduct Boat Launch and Picnic Area as well as Yankee Hill Lock picnic area are open from sunrise to sunset daily. Permits are required for gatherings of more than 20 persons.
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- Tours and Exhibit at Schoharie
Crossing
Guided tours of the site grounds
will be given by advance reservation only. Please call the site directly at (518) 829-7516 during normal
business hours or email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov to schedule. Tours are $3 per person.
Museum exhibit requires no tour.
Interpretive signs throughout the
grounds of Schoharie Crossing provide information on the various canal features
and pre-canal history of the site.
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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.
First Day Hike
Monday, January 1, 2024 01:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us for our 1st FIRST DAY
HIKE! Start off the New Year right
by joining site manager Paul Banks for a First Day Hike at Schoharie Crossing
State Historic Site. The hike starts at the Visitor Center (129 Schoharie St.
Fort Hunter, NY 12069) at 1 pm and should wrap up around 3 pm. This hike is
rated as easy since we will be walking to the East end of the site on the tow
paths trod by many a mule along the historic Erie Canal and walking back on the
Empire State Trail. Please join us! FYI, snow on the ground may change the hike
to a snowshoe with less distance or require traction aids. Starts and ends at the
Visitor Center/Museum. Please dress for the weather. Questions? Let us know by
calling or emailing: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, (518) 829-7516.
Registration: Required
Museum Monday - Argyle Day at Schoharie Crossing
Monday, January 8, 2024 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us for a lively look at
argyle! We'll have a brief discussion on the historic pattern and connect it to
an artifact in our museum exhibit. 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.
Lunchbox Lesson – Schoharie Creek Aqueduct
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 12:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
We'll be hosting the 4th
Annual Lunchbox Lesson Series via WebEx on a range of interesting topics to be
enjoyed during your "lunch break." For January we'll take a look at
the history of the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct. These programs happen on the
2nd Wednesday of the month, January to March at 12noon. 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.
History at Home: Epizooty with Travis Bowman
Thursday, January 18, 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 January 18th for "Epizooty"
with Travis Bowman. In the late 19th Century, the economy of
New York was threatened by an epidemic. Discover the fascinating history of the
horse influenza that impacted the Erie Canal and daily life for millions of
citizens. 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 – Enslavement in the Mohawk Valley
Monday, February 5, 2024 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Join us for a look at slavery
in the Mohawk Valley. We'll have a brief discussion on the topic connect it to
an artifact in our museum exhibit. 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.
