INTERSECTIONS OF ARTS, CULTURE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW YORK

Friday, November 14, 2025

9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

CBIS Auditorium, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

RPI is dedicated to supporting local history 

The School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at RPI, in conjunction with Albany Symphony, New York State Canal Corporation, and New York Power Authority, would like to present Reflections on Waterways, a symposium which revisits the various celebratory performances done along the route of the Erie Canal commemorating the 200th anniversary of the waterway, with commentary from several guest speakers. 

Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal was the largest state-funded public works project of the 19th century. It was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean, via the Hudson River, to the Great Lakes, reducing transportation costs across the Appalachians. Dubbed, "the nations first super highway," it also accelerated the Westward expansion of the United States. 

Today, the Erie Canal is primarily a tourist attraction with recreational vehicles using the waterway. However, it's legacy is still felt. Several museums dedicated to its history line the corridor. In 2000, Congress designated the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to protect and promote the system.

Please REGISTER if you would like to join us at the symposium.