Erie Canal Museum

Syracuse, New York is the home of the Erie Canal Museum. This museum is the location of an original weigh station which determined the costs to travel the canal based on cargo weight in the boat. It is the last of its type.

The Museum also covers the history and development of the Erie Canal and the tremendous economic impact it had on the surrounding area and history of our country.

Just down from the entrance to the Erie Canal Museum is a place to charge electric cars

The area in the immediate foreground is the location of the original canal and the overhang with the now enclosed boat is where the weighing was done

They had a great display as to how the immagrants were tasked to build the Erie Canal and how that was handled

You can explore a typical canal boat

Model of mechanism to weigh the boat

This device was used to pull the stumps after cutting trees to clear for digging the canal 

Offices where the paperwork of managing the canal were well preserved . 

The museum is a wonderful example of showcasing the development of the American transportation system and how the country benefited both economically and socially. Of special interest is how news  traveled quickly up and down the canal carried along by the canal boat operators.

Dana Thomas House Springfield Illinois

We stopped in Springfield, Illinois to see the Frank Lloyd Wright Dana Thomas house. This is now an Illinois State Historic Site.

Photography is not allowed of the interior so my images are limited to the outside. 

This home is somewhat unique among FLW homes as you do not need to search for the front door. It is readily found. 

The Japanese influence  in the roof design and the foundation treatment firmly 'planting' the home into the earth are typical Wright design elements.

This is a view from the garden areas of the house

The gardeners maintaining the grounds have done a fine job.

This is one of the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright designs and is a must see to anyone following his design history. The house was built for entertaining and has been well preserved. It is well worth the trip to see.

Corning Museum of Glass - Gift shop

The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning New York is a fascination place to visit. The tickets are good for two days which is a reasonable amount of time to see the entire complex.

The displays in the glass blowing shops and gift shop are fascinating.

Reminds me of fishing at our mountain lake

Fun to see all of the shapes that can be made of glass

Interesting exhibit on the color characteristics of certain glass depending upon the light source

You can spend hours admiring the various items offered for sale in the gift shop. It is almost a museum  in itself.

Julie enjoyed the gift shop