The Canal Society of New York State will be joined by state and local officials and members of the McClure family to dedicate the arrival of the Lois McClure, a replica historic canal schooner, at the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park on Saturday. The dedication ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the park, located in Port Byron. Additional programs will be offered throughout the day at the Samuel Center for Canal History.
The Lois McClure has served as a floating classroom throughout the Erie Canal system since 2004, educating the public about New York’s rich canal heritage. The vessel will now serve as a permanent centerpiece within the historic 1853 Enlarged Erie Canal lock at the Port Byron site.
The dedication also marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, a hands-on educational destination for Thruway travelers and visitors seeking to explore the history of the Erie Canal and the vital New York Canal System.
STATEMENTS FROM OFFICIALS AND ORGANIZERS
“Since 1956, the Canal Society of New York State has worked to preserve the history of the NY State Canals through events and tours, along with keeping an extensive collection and archives. Today we are celebrating the addition of the Lois McClure replica Canal Schooner at the Park. The vision of a canal boat in the former canal prism within the park is now a reality with the help of generous contributors, dedicated volunteers, partners and talented professionals. We are also celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park in Port Byron, a fantastic hands-on location for Thruway travelers and visitors to learn about Erie Canal history and the vital New York Canal System today.”
— Captain Tammee Poinan Grimes, President, Canal Society of New York State
“Congratulations to the Canal Society of New York State on 10 years of continuous operation of the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron, and to the McClure family on the dedication of this very special vessel. We are thrilled that she has reached her final home where she will add to the visitor experience at the park and continue serving as an important educational tool for many generations to come!”
— Ben Walsh, Director, New York State Canal Corporation
“The dedication of the Lois McClure is a powerful example of good government in action, made possible through our strong partnership with the Canal Society of New York State and their devoted volunteers. This project transforms the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park into an even more welcoming place for Thruway travelers to stop, rest and experience New York’s canal history in a truly hands-on way. We’re excited for what this remarkable vessel will offer visitors during the 2026 season and for many years to come.”
— Frank G. Hoare, Esq., Executive Director, New York State Thruway Authority
“Congratulations to the NYS Canal Society, and its contractors and volunteers for bringing the Lois McClure safely to her new home in Port Byron. Together, they showed the enduring spirit of the Erie Canal: leading with vision, digging in with grit and determination, facing engineering challenges, and getting the job done. We are pleased to have provided financial support for the project through a NYS Tourism Infrastructure grant, and we look forward to the next chapter of this esteemed educational vessel.”
— Bob Radliff, Executive Director, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
“There was a time when Erie Canal boats, like the Lois McClure, were a common sight in Port Byron. The Canal Society of New York State and the McClure family deserve many thanks for telling the story and bringing that experience back to our community.”
— Ronald Wilson, Mayor, Village of Port Byron
“Both my parents were movers and shakers, and thrilled to give back to the community in so many ways. Our entire McClure family is excited for the future of the schooner in Port Byron.”
— Jim McClure, Son of Lois and Mac McClure
Dedication Ceremony
1:30 p.m.
Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, Port Byron, N.Y.
Ceremony Speakers Include:
• Captain Tammee Poinan Grimes — President, Canal Society of New York State
• Tom Prindle — State Council on Waterways
• Art Cohn — Director Emeritus, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
• Robert & Wendy Beach — Co-founders/Board Members, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
• Pieter Smeenk — Chair, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission
• Ben Walsh — Director, New York State Canal Corporation
• Jim McClure — Son of Lois & Mac McClure
Samuel Center for Canal History Presentations
38 Rochester St., Port Byron, N.Y.
10:00–10:30 a.m. — Lois Howe McClure: A Passion for History and a Legacy of Giving
Lynn Fall, Historian
10:30–11:45 a.m. — “The Lois McClure Project, Creating A ‘Time Machine’ Volume I”
Art Cohn, Director Emeritus, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
2:45–3:15 p.m. — 10th Anniversary of the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park / Background of Park Creation
Craig Williams, President Emeritus & Captain Tammee Poinan Grimes, Canal Society of New York State
3:15–4:30 p.m. — “America’s Stairway” — Lockport Flight of Five Documentary
Introduction by David Kinyon, Chairman, Lockport Locks Heritage District
PARKING NOTICE: No public parking will be available at the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park site (Route 31 parking lot) on the day of the dedication. Visitors should park at the Samuel Center for Canal History in Port Byron or the Port Byron Central School athletic fields parking lots (off Route 31). Shuttle buses, including a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, will be available to all event sites.
