Not a large museum but their exhibitions are nicely picked and present the comprehensive history of the Erie Canal (time from time, place from place). The manager was super friendly and informed us on where to park. Very informative collections and associated articulations.All the on-site demos and kid-fun room were closed due to COVID-19, but the rest was still worth of ~1.5 hr visiting.

Fantastic museum! Passing through Syracuse & stopped in. So glad that we did! This quickly has become one of my favorite museums. The layout, history, and attention to detail was very impressive!

Love this very interesting history museum. Our economy started with this incredible innovation. I encourage anyone to stop in!

The Erie Canal was an amazing engineering feat. Most Americans have heard of the canal, but few know much about it. If brushing up on your history and discovering new facts is something you enjoy, then you need to visit the Erie Canal Museum.This Museum, located in Syracuse, is dedicated to the historical education on the building and use of this waterway, which measured more than 360 miles in length and help transform the New York economy. You get to learn about the pain and strain that went into building the canal. You get to learn about the canal’s function for transportation. You learn how the canal helped to generate new business and how it helped place the state of New York on the path toward greater prosperity.The exhibits at the museum are informative and one of the most interesting is the packet boat. It is a reproduction of one of the actual boats used on the canal and guests can walk on board the boat and get a feel for what life was like for those who used the Erie Canal for transportation purposes. The canal was not that wide, so boats were limited in size. There are more interactive exhibits to be found throughout the museum.Parking is somewhat of an issue here, since there are no directly adjacent parking lots for the museum. However, there are parking lots in the vicinity- you just have to look for them. The spaces intended for guest are labeled as visitor center parking. I ended up parking on the street and walking inside. It was relatively inexpensive to park and considering there is no entrance fee for the museum, this is a small thing to ask.The Erie Canal Museum is housed in the Syracuse Weighlock building, which adds to its authenticity and enjoyment. This was one of the actual places where boats on the canal would pass through, to check their weight and determine their toll. It’s all very interesting and a place I recommend visiting. Even if your interest is only moderate, you will come away knowing more than you did before.

Great museum and visitors center. It is a $5 contribution to enter. A few exhibits were broken or dated, but the detailed information was great. Would love to see walking tours leaving from there in the future.

This museum is a jewel. Everything is so well presented! I had no idea this canal included so many locks. It was fun to watch the evolution from the first steam engine (1831) competing with the canal and eventually beating it.I discovered so much about the 1830 to 1880s.. The beds on the barge were a surprise, so is the toilet in the kitchen.It was fun to be in the weighlock on the barge picturing life150 years ago.The map near the lobby includes a fascinating side view of the canal from Lake Erie to the Hudson River, listing the cities and the various water levels at the dozens and dozens of locks along the canal. It is a pleasure to read.I imagine my friends, who love boating, enjoying an outing on such a canal.

Small but interesting staff is knowledgeable about the exhibits.

The Erie Canal Museum, though diminutive in size, provides a powerful opportunity to experience the Erie Canal through photography, artifacts, reproductions and the knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff who are delighted to guide you to points of interest and answer your questions.This enchanting museum is fun on an individual scale leading you to wonder and question how this canal connected people together and affected their daily lives. I hope you will ask how it can be a positive force in your life today.

Nice place for a tour with great food.

I did not get the full story of the Erie Canal in my American history classes, not sure many have. This charming little museum highlights one of the most brilliant engineering and civic projects undertaken in America. They also open the door to the possibility of an Erie Canal trip following it through the state. We cant wait to try. Excellent stop for older elementary and middle school children.

This is a great museum. Great displays, some interactive. A canal boat to be boarded. A fun way to learn about the canal that helped make New York the empire state.

Spent a good two hours sauntering round all the exhibits and information boards; could have spent more. Very good, accessible and interactive. We virtually had the place to ourselves as it was early September and the holidays were finished though I imagine it would have been almost as good had it been busier as the attractions are well spaced and laid out.

Very cool place with lots to do and see

It was a very good experience. Definitely it worths the time. Its a free museum. Take the elevator when you go to second floor. Take the stairs when you go down. They are both unique. Staff is very friendly and helpful. They should have a bigger place.

Well done exhibits with informative guides! Worth the visit to learn more about Syracuse and NY State history!

I have been here many times, always with school groups, very boring place. When I go to the Erie Canal Museum I start wishing I was in my boring classroom

The docent, I believe his name was Peter brought the exhibits to life. His tour brought a world of information and some amusing history. I spent about 2 hours. I never realized the importance of the Erie canal to the expansion to the west

Historic, unique, well put together with excellent exhibits...housed in the last standing weigh house of the canal era. Gives a window into a different time of American history. A must see....

Did you know that George Washington is the father of American mules? Me neither! I was lucky enough to catch the mule exhibit on its last day. Mules were essential in the building of the first Erie Canal (1817-1825). The museum does a great job of explaining the history and the engineering of that canal - which opened the West (at that time, the West was Ohio) and which also made New York City the important city it became. The museum also offers insight into the boats used and gives you an idea of 19th-century transportation and industry. I went hoping to get a solid, broad, basic understanding of the Erie Canal, and this museum delivered in full. And - theres a boat you can check out!!

They capture our shared state heritage and historic importance of the canal here. Funny aside, I took a tour on the canal once and they shouted low bridge, everybody down and I thought it was just part of the song. But my unfortunately large head almost slammed into the bridge so it truly was a word of caution.

The museum is a great place to learn. We really enjoyed our time there.

The museum is wonderful! The staff are helpful and very friendly. I definitely suggest visiting the Erie Canal Museum.

The museum is great, the staff not so much.

Housed in the Weighlock Building(erected in 1850) is the impressive Erie Canal Museum.On a hot July Syracuse day,I learned about the Erie Canal and its importance prior to the creation of New York States railroad system.I learned about the boats that transported salt from Lake Onondaga,grain, and passengers in the western portions of New York State.I especially appreciated Corky Goss fine mural that depicted the Syracuse Canal Station in bygone times.I also relished the fine curatorial work of its staff in enriching me about 19th Century Syracuse and its salt economy in years past.

The Building, & its Contents are Museum Quality!The building housing the Museum was built in 1849-- and was used to weigh vessels in order to determine the applicable fee/toll for using the Canal. When the fees were abolished, the building was vacant until 1962 when it was converted, over a period to the present into the Museum [by local residents]. The collection includes a full size (reconstructed 50 foot bat as well as about 50,000 diverse and interesting items related to the Erie (and other) canal(s). Its definitely worthy of a visit. A donation ($5.00 is recommended) can be made upon entry.I hope that this Review was helpful.

This is a well-curated museum that presents a comprehensive history of the Erie Canal. There is one other similar museum that talks about the Erie Canal - the State Museum of New York in Albany - but I feel this one has more appeal because the building that houses it was once an actual facility of the massive Erie Canal network!So the building once functioned as a weighlock, and the museum described in detail how it operated (i.e., by weighing each passing boat and its cargo, and then assessing the corresponding toll). Its very much similar to highway toll booths, except this one required the water the boat sits on to be drained before it could be weighed. The control room in the building where many of the day-to-day operations took place is still around and was really cool to see. They also have a replica boat in the exact location a boat from the 1800s would have been docked and weighed. There is no more water now since the portion of the canal that spans downtown Syracuse has been landfilled after canal operations ceased. But its easy to imagine how this place would have looked like in its heyday.The museum offers free admission but they welcome donations. The staff was pleasant and helpful with information. Allot at least an hour for your visit. Its a bit difficult finding parking within the immediate vicinity, but luckily, we found one that was only a 10-minute walk.

I was looking for something to do when I had some free time in Syracuse, and found the this Museum online. Its free with a suggested $5 donation which I was happy to give. It was larger and more comprehensive than I had expected. I was glad I went there. They even provide free parking.

A Museum dedicated to the local history of Syracuse n.y a great place for school field trip and a family outing... Side street slant parking for ease of use parking...

Wonderful hotel close to Destiny Mall. Friendly reception staff who were very helpful with local restaurants. Had a corner room which we felt was spacious. Comfortable bed with great bathroom. Breakfast was available but we decided to venture out instead. Will return and recommend to friends.

I live in Syracuse, NY and visit the Canal Museum frequently. They have recently revamped their exhibit areas and there are several interactive exhibits that will help you understand the hydrology of the canal and its significance to the development of the Empire State and, indeed, the rest of the USA in the early 1800s. The first Interstate Highway in the USA to my way of thinking. Enjoy!

The Erie Canal is an interesting place in history that has no boundaries. They used to carry all the shipments from New York City to Binghamton, to Rochester to Syracuse and up to Buffalo and do that trip. It was a tough time and it deserves a museum.

Cozy well maintained museum. Kid friendly. We enjoyed it as well as our 3 year old.

Great organization. Good way to spend a couple hours in Syracuse on a very hot day. Exceptional displayss, well organized and very interesting. The replica of the canal boat was well done. Learned so much about the history of the canal and the area.

Very nice experience. Spent an hour there while driving through New York. Would recommend to anyone. I was especially touched by the text of a letter from a man in Ohio to his brother in Germany giving instructions to cross the ocean, get through New York City, up the Hudson, across the canal, over the lake and then on a stage coach.We have it so easy. Even with planes packed tight as they are.

Great Museum start to finish.

Really cool history museum! There is a lot of history to Syracuse, NY I didnt know about until I came here. They have the only surviving weigh-lock in the country! The eerie canal was vital to this countrys growth and its really cool to examine that and think about the history. Very interesting, and a must-see for anyone visiting this city. Plus its only donation based, so give what you want!!

Went here while passing through on business. I was pleasantly surprised at how thorough and informative it was. Two full floors, life size model canal boat, interactive exhibitions, elevator, gift shop, and artifacts all blended well to explain the significance of the Erie Canal in 19th Century America. Admission was a reasonable $5.00. We parked on the street across from the museum, 2hour limit, metered for a total of $2.50. Takes coin,cash,or credit. There is a diner, and a beer garden to eat or refresh before or after the visit! Right off the highway, located downtown.

Its a cool place to go to learn about the history of the Erie Canal. They even have a little boat you can go on to see how it was back in the day. And best of all its FREE!!!

Last I remember I had good experience however it was while ago but Im sure its fine now.

A must-see if passing through Syracuse. Nice overview of all things related to the famous Erie Canal. You will see things here you wont see anywhere else, including the weigh lock building which is the last of its kind in the U.S. Good for adults and kids alike.

Dig the canal so we have water again! I found the staff to be lovely. I really thought it was going to be one of those dreary museums run by those painless history people. But au contraire. Im looking forward to the big Wednesday night next week.

Free admission, it takes less than one hour to visit.

Fascinating piece of New York history! The museum is in the only remaining canal weighlock building in the world, right on the old Erie Canal. Lots from the period including a boat, clothing, tools and an explanation of how the weighing and the canal worked. Would love to take my daughter there again when shes older and into history.

Great museum that kept the kids attention. Can do in an hour maybe 2 hours if you read everything.

The Erie Canal was an unprecendented undertaking in American history. The effect this project had on the region cannot be overstated. It is a fascinating story. This museum does it a disservice. It is poorly organized, small, and riddled with factual inaccuracies. Not to mention the staff, rude beyond measure. If you want to learn a wonderful story, many great books have been written on the subject. Avoid this museum, its not worth your time or money.

Very informative and well presented. An hour well spent.

What a place to visit...

Excellent displays and infoFull size walk thru canal boat..

This place is awesome for any history buff. Youll learn a lot.

Educational and interesting place for visitors of all ages. Very unique.

Very cool and worth the time. Informative.

Very disappointed, I thought this was going to be a museum full of ear canals, and that the name was a pun. But, upon arrival I quickly learned that that was not the case, major let down.

Great museum, you can go right onto the old boat and explore it, a lot of interesting syracuse history to discover inside!!

I grew up on the land near the Poolsbrook wide waters my dad Ted E. Neis bought it after WW2 nice displays but not anything about that part of the canal, enjoyed my visit.Ted A. Neis

You should visit it

Listening to Merry Mischief at the Gingerbread Gallery.

Not bad . Lady at desk not very nice.

Best museum in Metro Syracuse!!

A lot of knowledge in this historic site

Nice. People very helpful.

Good

Good exelent history

Best

Needs redesign

Good experience

Yes¡¡¡

Nice museum

Quaint

Very interesting

Very nice palace

Be informative and interactive

Great for a free museum

Enjoyable!