Syracuse is one of the larger cities along the canal system. The city's growth was primarily due to the local salt deposits and its proximity to the canal system. The original Erie Canal ran right through the city and allowed the vast salt deposits to be mined and shipped to the coast. The modern canal runs south of the city, though utilizing Onondaga Lake, Syracuse is still part of the canal system. There is a large harbor at the south eastern end of the lake to serve the city.
Syracuse Inner Harbor
Located on the south eastern end of Onondaga Lake is Syracuse's Inner Harbor. This recently redeveloped harbor offers boaters with plenty of parking for boats along with reasonable access to the city. The Carousel Mall, which is currently undergoing an expansion, is just down the street from the harbor, and there is many plans for revitalizing the area now that the industrial remains of yesteryear have been removed.
Erie Canal Museum
The Erie Canal Museum is a museum dedicated to the preservation of the Syracuse Weighlock Building and conveying the history of the Erie Canal. The museum is located in the former Syracuse Weighlock building which was built in 1850 to weigh boats for the purpose of collecting tolls. The museum was founded in 1962 is located appropriately at 318 Erie Boulevard East, Syracuse.
Syracuse Photos
| The Erie Canal Museum in the old weighlock building.
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| The Amphitheater at the inner harbor where summer events take place.
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| An old loading building adjacent to the harbor.
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| The harbor provides plenty of overflow docking at the old terminal loading sites.
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| A map of the general harbor and downtown (yellow) area.
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