Montezuma to Syracuse
This Erie Canal Mural Trail follows along the original Erie Canal that first opened the middle section of the canal in 1820. Many of these murals can be seen along the Empire State Bike Trail and State Route 31. These murals offer a view into the past of over 200 years ago. As a result of the Erie Canal New York became the Empire State. This 35-mile journey tells wonderful stories of Erie Canal history. From the amazing structure of the Richmond Aqueduct in Montezuma to old Erie Canal locks, you will see all the physical remaining structures with stunning murals bringing to life the unique stories of each community.
montezuma
Exchange Hotel on the Erie Canal 2013
ARTIST-DAWN JORDAN, AUBURN, N.Y.
The Exchange Hotel Mural is on the site where this historic landmark once was built to accommodate travelers along the original Erie Canal opening here in 1820. The mural was commissioned by the Montezuma Historical Society for the Town of Montezuma through donations and a grant received by the Cayuga Community Foundation.
The mural depicts the important historic junction of the Enlarged Erie Canal and the lateral Cayuga and Seneca Canals. It opened up transportation and commerce to the Finger Lakes and beyond in 1828. A suspicious fire destroyed the hotel in 1918, following the closing of the Enlarged Erie Canal.
Today this site is has been transformed to celebrate the rich history located in Montezuma Heritage Park. This entrance to the Park leads to over 160 acres, eleven nature trails and several other historic canal sites.
Located on High Street at the Byron Lapp Memorial Trailhead in Montezuma Heritage Park off Route 90, north of firehouse.
Richmond Aqueduct Then and Now 2016
Artist-Dawn Jordan, Auburn, N.Y.
The mural was sponsored by the Montezuma Historical Society for the Montezuma Heritage Park to commemorate an important part of Montezuma’s early canal heritage. The artist’s design, based on a historic photo of the aqueduct, depicts the 19th Century magnificent Richmond Aqueduct when in operation “then” in contrast to what “now” remains as a lingering monument and triumph of its day!
The mural was painted at the 2016 Global Mural Conference and Expo in Fairport, New York. It won the Viewers’ Choice Award during its exhibit there. Later it was displayed in an exhibit at the Office of General Services in Albany, to kickoff the celebration the 200th anniversary of building the Erie Canal before being installed in Montezuma Heritage Park.
Located on Route 31, east of the Seneca River Bridge, Montezuma, NY
Jordan
yesterday on the Erie Canal 2008
DAWN JORDAN, AUBURN, NY
Port Byron
Summer Afternoon on the Erie Canal 2005
ARTIST-DAWN JORDAN, AUBURN, N.Y.
The painting depicts a fictional scene of boats passing through the canal in Port Byron, featuring canal-oriented businesses and homes. The boats pictured are steamboats, so the scene is dated somewhere around the turn of the century, when steam power replaced mule power.
While the mural is not based on any specific moment, it was pieced together by the artist using old photographs of the former Tanner Dry Dock area.
Located at the corner of Route 31 and Route 38, Port Byron, NY
Balloon over weedsport 2006
CORKY GOSS AND CHIP MILLER, SYRACUSE, NY
The mural depicts an arial view of Weedsport during the Enlarged Erie Canal era.
Located on the north side of the former Burritt Hardware building at 8914 N Seneca Street, Weedsport, NY
Erie Canal in 1910
Artist - Dawn Jordan, Auburn, NY
The mural represents traveling down the Enlarged Erie Canal during the early 1900’s, which is where Erie Drive (Rt. 31) is now located. The bridge connecting Brutus Street is long gone but several building can still be seen.
Located on the north side of the Old Brutus Historical Museum building, 8943 N. Seneca Street, Weedsport, NY,
Camillus
Nine Mile Aqueduct
Artist - Dawn Jordan, Auburn, NY
The mural shows a canal boat traveling over the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct. The 144-foot-long limestone-and-wood structure opened in 1845, part of the first enlargement of the Erie Canal. It is one of dozens of water bridges on the canal that carried the waterway above and across Nine Mile Creek.
Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct has been restored and is navigable using original construction methods and materials. This amazing aqueduct restoration recaptured not only a piece of history, but long lost engineering knowledge.
Visit the canal museum, aqueduct and trails year-round. Boat rides are available over the aqueduct in summer.
Located on the second floor of the Sims’ Store Museum at Camillus Erie Canal Park, 750 Devoe Road, Camillus NY.