Passionate About the Erie Canal and Seneca Lake History

1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast Inn is located conveniently along Seneca Lake with access to the historic New York State waterways. My guests are always asking for more excursion ideas when they are staying here for a few days, so I thought I would post about destinations and historic venues located within a short jaunt from the house, around the lakes and waterways.

Painting of Erie Canal taken from Wikipedia

The history of the central New York State waterways goes back to the Erie Canal built over a 363 mile area of land across the state beginning in 1817. Known as "Clinton's Ditch" after the DeWitt Clinton, Governor of N.Y. at the time, the original canal was completed in 1825.

Building of original Erie Canal taken from Democrat and Chronicle blog

The canal was expanded, widened, and deepened numerous times, according to the demands of travelers and businesses needing the waterways for the transporting of goods. The region prospered as a result of this grand project that was to be considered to be one of the largest canal projects of all time. History was created and documented by all as they utilized the canal and its expansions, such as the Barge Canal, still functional today.

Erie Canal locks located within one hour from 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast Inn

Erie Canal locks Seneca Falls, NY near 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast Inn

Passionate stories were written about the Erie Canal's sights and sounds in travel journals by those visiting the region or in shipping logs by those working on the canal waterways transporting goods and natural resources from Buffalo to Seneca Lake and as far as Albany, and then to New York City via the Hudson River.

The waterways can still be seen and toured in a number of ways. They provide an unusually interesting day excursion for those visiting the Finger Lakes Region. There are boat tours, biking tours,  walking tours, or now during the winter season, cross-country ski tours, depending on your wants and needs.

To plan a trip to stay at 1922 Starkey House Bed & Breakfast Inn and tour the NY State Waterways call Cathy Moskal, Innkeeper/Owner to ask about availability and tours at 607-243-7770 or 607-316-0069 or E-mail cathy@1922starkeyhouse.com for further information.

Photos taken from NYState Canals website and Wikipedia