Waterford Canal and Towpath Society

09/10/2026

For those making arrangements to visit the TBR and attend your talk, please let folks know there will be shuttle service (some combination of a golf cart and minivan) between the Waterford Visitor Center and the Peebles Island Visitor Center (Tug Talks venue) for those who want to avoid the 5-minute walk.
We have a great lineup of talks this year, and I think they will be well attended.

Saturday - 9/12
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: “New York’s 1976 Bicentennial Barge – A Retrospective” a moderated panel featuring Bicentennial Barge Project Director Phil Johnson. This moderated panel discussion about the trip of a large barge built by New York State to showcase New York State's history in conjunction with the 1976 bicentennial celebration. The barge traveled throughout New York State on the inland waterways including the NYS Canal and hosted nearly 1 million visitors.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: “2026 TOTY Showcase - The History of the Shoofly Pie” by N.D. Austin. The owner of the Tug of the Year will give a talk about the boat's - ahem - colorful history.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s…A Barge? Rescuing Imperiled Logistical Challenges using America's Original Superhighway – Ship By Canal!” by New York State Marine Highway. Rob Goldman and Steven Hayes of NYS Marine Highway will talk about two projects in 2026 which could only be completed by using the NYS Canal System.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: “The Last Trip of the J.W. Lee – A Canal Boat Working from Whitehall to Albany goes over a dam."
Waterford historian Russ VanDervoort tells the tale of an ill-fated canal boat trip from Whitehall to Albany interrupted when the barge goes over a dam in Waterford. A three-day rescue and reclaim meets with some success...and setbacks.

Sunday, September 13th
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: “Revolutionary New York & the Erie Canal” by Brad Utter. New York State Museum's Senior Historian and Curator of Science and Technological History Brad Utter gives a talk on a chapter he co-authored in the book Revolutionary New York by Bruce Dearstyne.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: “When Steam Whistles Sang: 1988’s Live Steam Voices – A Canallers Retrospective” led by Capt. Steven R. Wunder and Tom Prindle. A riveting look back at one of the most interesting and inspired events on the Canal System in recent memory.

Send a message to learn more

09/10/2026

Encouraging news concerning Matton's Shipyard. Public Access at Matton Shipyard Advances

Work is underway at the former Matton Shipyard in Cohoes as the site moves toward public opening as part of Peebles Island State Park. The remaining federal and state grants we secured are being used to create a safe, secure, and accessible site for public use. The adaptive reuse project is a joint effort of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in partnership with NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

This round of improvements includes installing ADA-accessible trails and parking spaces, interpretive signage, and pedestrian lighting, all contributing to the restoration of this historic site. Construction work will ramp up significantly throughout September and is expected to conclude in mid-October, marking an exciting step toward welcoming the public to the improved Matton Shipyard site.

Send a message to learn more

08/26/2026

Locks E-2 through E-6 were closed on August 25 for New York State Police Officer Underwater Recovery Team members to practice diving inside canal locks. MORE: https://www.news10.com/.../new-york-state-troopers.../...

08/26/2026

WATERFORD TUG BOAT ROUNDUP TUG BOAT TALK SCHEDULE 2026

Love talking tugboats? Well take it from team TBR...our "Tug Talks" have a terrific tendency to tantalize and treat tons of tug traditionalists and tourists who take the time for the tiny trek to attend!
Saturday - 9/12
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Peebles Island): “New York’s 1976 Bicentennial Barge – A Retrospective” a moderated panel featuring Bicentennial Barge Project Director Phil Johnson. This moderated panel discussion about the trip of a large barge built by New York State to showcase New York State's history in conjunction with the 1976 bicentennial celebration. The barge traveled throughout New York State on the inland waterways including the NYS Canal and hosted nearly 1 million visitors.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Peebles Island): “2026 TOTY Showcase - The History of the Shoofly Pie” by N.D. Austin. The owner of the Tug of the Year will give a talk about the boat's - ahem - colorful history. Please note... no recording or live streaming of this talk! (And all children must be accompanied by an adult.)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Peebles Island): “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s…A Barge? Rescuing Imperiled Logistical Challenges using America's Original Superhighway – Ship By Canal!” by New York State Marine Highway. Rob Goldman and Steven Hayes of NYS Marine Highway will talk about two projects in 2026 which could only be completed by using the NYS Canal System.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Peebles Island): “The Last Trip of the J.W. Lee – A Canal Boat Working from Whitehall to Albany goes over a dam
Waterford historian Russ VanDervoort tells the tale of an ill-fated canal boat trip from Whitehall to Albany interrupted when the barge goes over a dam in Waterford. A three-day rescue and reclaim meets with some success...and setbacks.
Sunday, September 13th
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Peebles Island): “Revolutionary New York & the Erie Canal” by Brad Utter. New York State Museum's Senior Historian and Curator of Science and Technological History Brad Utter gives a talk on a chapter he co-authored in the book Revolutionary New York by Bruce Dearstyne.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Peebles Island): “When Steam Whistles Sang: 1988’s Live Steam Voices – A Canallers Retrospective” led by Capt. Steven R. Wunder and Tom Prindle. Though recording devices have not specifically been banned from this talk, there may have to be some deleting depending on where things go. See less

Send a message to learn more

08/04/2026

07/09/2026

Erie Canal concert to honor bald eagle Mr. Peebles with new symphony
A floating concert, a famous bald eagle and the Erie Canal come together in Albany Symphony's’The Ballad of Mr. Peebles‘For weeks, composer Celka Ojakangas has been telling her friends “one of the funniest phrases” she’s gotten to utter:

“I’m writing a piece about an eagle named Mr. Peebles that’s going to be played on a barge in the Erie Canal,” Ojakangas recited during a call from her Los Angeles home.
This Friday, July 11th, 2:30 - 10 pm, at Lock 2 Park.

07/08/2026

ALBANY — At 90 years young, Ginger Miller has no intentions of putting down her drumsticks any time soon. In fact, she is on a mission to become the world’s oldest female drummer.

The Albany native, who has been playing the drums since age 16, must play 20 shows, each with a set of at least 45 minutes, to set a Guinness World Record — a title that no one currently holds. She hopes to complete this goal by the summer of 2027.

Throughout her tour, Miller will be raising money for cancer research in memory of her son.

So far, Miller has played two shows — including one in Las Vegas — since she submitted her application to Guinness World Records in January. She has another show coming up at the Waterford Tugboat Roundup in September.

07/08/2026

Erie Canal on the world scene.

A Global Exchange at Lock E‑2 🌍
We were proud to recently welcome a delegation of engineers, hydrologists, and irrigation specialists from Egypt as part of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program.
Our team shared how we manage water across the NYS Canal system and guided the group through Waterford Harbor and Lock E‑2, complete with a perfectly timed lock-through.
Visits like this remind us that the work happening along our Canals is part of a broader global tradition of inland waterway management. Our thanks go out to all who helped create such an informative and inspiring exchange.

06/16/2026

Row for Hope - McQuaid Jesuit
A school in Rochester travels the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Waterford.