Colonial Belle

On this day in 1825, the original Erie Canal opened, connecting Lake Erie at Buffalo to the Hudson River at Albany to the Atlantic Ocean at New York City. Thoug...h the canal has evolved over the past 195 years, it remains a powerful symbol of America’s CAN-DO spirit. We’re proud to partner with you to protect and promote this extraordinary waterway. (Image: The Deep Cut in Lockport, 1825) See more

This Day in History: It was on this date in 1825 when the Erie Canal opened, allowing commerce to pass between the Hudson River in the Capital Region and Lake ...Erie in Western New York. So many cities, towns and villages became what they are today due to the success of the Canal. First image here is a capture I took yesterday, the newest mural along the Erie Canal in Newark, NY (Wayne County). The other photos are a few of my favorite Erie Canal captures this year beginning with: Russian vessel navigating around the world passing through Middleport, boat going over Medina Culvert (only spot on entire Canal where boats cross OVER vehicles), the brand new Breaker II ice cutter passing by Brewerton on way to Buffalo and lastly a homemade wooden boat arriving in Fairport recently. The Erie Canal, 200 years ago regarded as folly, remains a treasure across New York State. See more

Evening views of Seneca Lake when we checked on the CB & did some minor maintenance tonight. There are trout in the water right by the dock, something we can’t see in the Erie Canal water very easily.

82 degrees in Fairport & no boats (Photo by Anne from our CB office.)

#TBT: A view of the #Lockport locks looking up the towpath, showing the original lock system.

#tbt On this day 201 years ago, the first stretch of canal was watered between Rome and Utica, signaling the beginning of the opening of the original Erie Canal.

#ThrowbackThursday to how the state used to perform maintenance on the canal. Luckily for today’s divers they have much lighter equipment, though it probably do...esn’t look as cool! We’re also happy to announce that this image from our collection will soon be displayed near where it was taken at the Oneida Creek Aqueduct thanks to an interpretive sign project by the City of Oneida being funded by an Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor IMPACT! grant.

It’s National Apple Day! Upstate New York’s agricultural lands have always had a strong connection to the canal. Apples were shipped by barrel from Western New ...York in the 1800s. Today, New York is the second largest apple producing state (behind Washington) and Wayne County accounts for nearly half of all apple farm acreage in New York. See more

That Fall Feeling: Enjoy 60 seconds of a cold, crisp autumn day here in WNY (Fairport, NY). The Colonial Belle made its last passenger trip of 2018 on the Eri...e Canal this afternoon with the backdrop of fabulous fall color, best I’ve seen anywhere to this point. These were hearty passengers on board as wind chill was 29 degrees at the time. Frigid and fantastic! Colonial Belle See more

Thanks Bob Stivers for the intel during our test run on Seneca Lake today with the Colonial Belle! (Video by Jolene Femiano) Photos by me, Dustin Grimes, Jolene... & a new fans on a neighbor boat near the marina. The CB loved having the front compartment empty with her bow up high cruising on the lake. She handled so nice! (We carry about 750 gallons of water in the front compartment of the CB by approval of the Coast Guard & only permitted in the canal to keep the bow down under low bridges. The compartment was emptied before we cruised on the lake.)

October 20, 2020. Colonial Belle has made her way on a test run into Seneca Lake. First time she’s been in this lake since the early ‘90s!! #senecalake #geneva

Colonial Belle hasn’t cruised on Seneca Lake since a brief run one day in the mid-1990’s. We’re taking her for a run just for fun (without passengers) this afternoon in the North end of the lake before we fully winterize her. We’re not quite ready to stop cruising just yet & the lake is calling.