Black River Canal Museum revisited

When we first visited the museum, we found the displays at the Hemlock Mercantile building (opened June 2, 2007) quite interesting. The life-sized canal boat replica (which had been christened the Walter C. Pratt on July 5, 2008) had pictures and displays depicting life in the boat and on the canal. Although the activity center inside the reconstructed warehouse had been completed in the summer of 2007, it was for some reason closed at the time of our first visit.


This time, we were able to thoroughly immerse ourselves in the interactive displays which amused and educated not only the young but the not so young amongst us. Navigating the mini-canal in our chosen canal boat allowed us to understand how the locks work.

The archives building that will house historical memorabilia and documents has also been recently completed. Eight years ago, a group of Boonville area volunteers first decided to preserve and provide education on the canal's rich history.

For more than 70 years, the Black River Canal had been the major thoroughfare in the North country, transporting goods to major cities. It has brought prosperity to Boonville and now the museum is giving its proper tribute to this man-made wonder.