Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
129 Schoharie Street
Fort Hunter, NY 12069
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 Putman 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.
P.O. Box 140 Fort Hunter, NY 12069
Hours of Operation
- Grounds open dawn to dusk, year-round, weather permitting.
- Visitor Center:
May 2-Oct 31
Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10 am - 5 pm; Sundays 1 pm - 5 pm.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. - Site includes Schoharie Creek Aqueduct & Boat Launch, Putman Canal Store, Yankee Hill Locks, as well as miles of towpath trails. See Trail Map for details.
Fees & Rates
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
There is no admission fee however some fees apply for special events, educational services, tours and the use of picnic areas.
$3/person school groups
$3/person for toursPlease contact the site for outreach program rates.
Maps
New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.
Our new exhibit, "Pathway to Empire: How the Erie Canal Helped Build America" will be open in 2018 and helps us mark the Bicentennial of the Erie Canal. This new 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 you can also view panels on the pre-canal history of the site. This portion of our exhibit highlights the Mohawk Village as well as 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.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 06:30 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Friday, April 26, 2019 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
At the Visitor Center
We have an amazing volunteer project occurring for Canal Clean Sweep this year. Come help the Friends of Schoharie Crossing clear a new trail from Yankee Hill to South Amsterdam along the banks of the Mohawk River. Register on the Parks and Trails NY Website in the "ticket" section.
An informal trail has connected the site to S. Amsterdam for years, we've been granted the ok through the Adopt-A-Trail program to create this as a formal trail. It will parallel the Mohawk River and Canalway bikepath, however this natural based trail will provide a different connection to nature along the river and through the trees.
All along the canal people are coming out, working together and cleaning up along the way! Help us by giving this terrific area a fresh cleaning for the beginning of the 2019 season! This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity to come out and lend a hand at Schoharie Crossing. Lunch will be provided to those volunteers who wish to stay until noon to help-out.
Please bring work gloves, wear proper hard soled footwear for walking the grounds. Personal hand tools such as rakes, trash grabbers, etc. are welcome – please put your name on it so it isn’t misplaced. Register through Parks & Trails New York here: http://ptny.org/events/canal-clean-sweep
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 06:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Presented by The Hysterical Society
Old timey, funny, and sometimes downright inappropriate! Come on out to Schoharie Crossing for this comedy show like none-other. Enjoy witty history jokes from the present and the past. Each historian will get a set to provide you with hysterical looks at our past.
“Happy Hour” begins at 6pm with the first histo-comic hitting the stage at 6:30pm.Saturday, May 4, 2019 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Register
Start time for all projects: 8:00am
End time for all projects: 12pm
Meeting Location for all projects: Visitor Center.
Volunteer Project #1: We will be sprucing up around the Visitor Center and planting flowers. We ask that everyone check in at the Visitor Center before directing toward work on site. Please dress appropriately for the weather, bring a beverage, work gloves. We will provide a sandwich lunch for anyone still on site at 12n. Ages: All ages welcome. Please bring: Garden gloves/gardening tools, branch clippers,rakes, hand saws, shovels, water, snack
Volunteer Project #2: We will be conducting clearing work on a new trail extension connecting Yankee Hill Lock on the east end of the site to South Amsterdam. This is a Friends of Schoharie Crossing Adopt-a-Trail Project. We ask that everyone check in at the Visitor Center before directing toward work on site. Please dress appropriately for the weather, bring a beverage, work gloves. We will provide a sandwich lunch for anyone still on site at 12pm. Ages: Appropriate for 13 and up Please bring: Garden gloves, branch clippers, hand saws, shovels, rock rakes, water, snack
We can accommodate: Small groups, college students groups, Boy or Girl Scouts. Questions? Call: 518-829-7516 Email: david.brooks@parks.ny.gov
Amenities, Activities & Information
- Amenities
- Bridle Path
- Educational Services (Accessible)
- Gift Shop (Accessible)
- Interpretive Signs (Accessible)
- Museum/Visitors Center (Accessible)
- Scenic Views (Accessible)
- Self Guided Tours (Accessible)
- Activities
- Biking
- Group Tours (Accessible)
- Guided Tours (Accessible)
- Hiking (Accessible)
- Picnic Area (Accessible)
- X-Country Skiing