A replica canal schooner that has spent decades bringing Erie Canal history to life will soon have a permanent home in Cayuga County, with a public dedication ceremony planned next month in Port Byron.
The Canal Society of New York State announced it will formally dedicate the Lois McClure at Old Erie Canal Heritage Park on Saturday, May 9, marking both the vessel’s arrival and the 10th anniversary of the park’s opening.
The Lois McClure, a replica of a 19th-century canal schooner, has traveled extensively along the Erie Canal since 2004 as a floating educational exhibit. The vessel will now be featured within the historic 1853 Enlarged Erie Canal lock at the Port Byron site.
Organizers said the dedication ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the heritage park, with additional programming planned throughout the day at the nearby Samuel Center for Canal History.
Events will include presentations on the history of the McClure family and the development of the schooner project, as well as discussions about the heritage park itself. A screening of “America’s Stairway,” a documentary focused on the Lockport Flight of Five Locks, is also planned.
Morning programming will run from 10 a.m. to noon, with additional sessions scheduled from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. at the Samuel Center.
Attendees should plan ahead for parking, as no public parking will be available at the heritage park on the day of the event. Visitors will be directed to park at the Samuel Center or the Port Byron Central School athletic fields, with shuttle service — including accessible transportation — provided to and from the event site.
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