8,500 free calendars distributed throughout the Corridor
Pick up a copy of the 2010 Erie Canalway Calendar starting December 1, 2009 at selected libraries and visitor centers throughout the National Heritage Corridor. Each month features one of twelve winning images from this year's Erie Canalway photo contest.
 
Calendars go quickly and are available on a first come, first served basis. Limit: one per family please.

Click here for calendar distribution sites near you or to view winning images.

More than one hundred years ago America invented the national park idea with the designation of Yellowstone as the first national park. Guided by that founding idea, and in light of the centennial celebration of the National Parks Service in 2016, the National Park Second Century Commission was convened to examine the role of the national parks today and articulate a bold vision for their future.

The Commission has now completed a report and offered recommendations. Take a survey to share your thoughts on the recommendations at http://tinyurl.com/yzelu4w. To read the full report, visit www.visionfortheparks.org.

New Study Reveals Popularity of U.S. Cultural and Heritage Travel
A recent research study reveals that 78% of all U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities while traveling, translating to 118.3 million adults each year. With cultural and heritage travelers spending an average of $994 per trip, they contribute more than $192 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

Cultural and heritage activities identified by travelers included: visiting historic sites (66%); attending historical re-enactments (64%); visiting art museums and galleries (54%); and attending art/craft fairs or festivals (45%). The vast majority of these travelers (65%) said that they seek travel experiences where the "destination, its buildings and surroundings have retained their historic character."
 
The study was conducted by Mandala Research for the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism (USCHT) Marketing Council, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Click here for details.

The Preservation League of New York State presented a $6,500 grant to the Village of Fort Plain in the Mohawk Valley on November 20. The grant will be used for a reconnaissance-level cultural resources survey of the village that will help it to prioritize planning efforts and begin the process of preserving its many historic buildings.
 
Fort Plain developed as a trading hub and small industrial center located on the historic Erie Canal and West Shore Railroad. Numerous mills, dwellings for their workers and owners, commercial blocks, and several large churches reflect the area's prosperity at the end of the 19th century. Today, the Erie Canalway Trail and Lock 15 on the Mohawk River/Erie Canal pass through Fort Plain. The library, which also serves as a welcome center for travelers, received an Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence - Honorable Mention in 2008.
 
For more information on the Preserve New York Grant Program, contact the Preservation League of New York State at 518-462-5658 or www.preservenys.org.

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has recently updated its list of upcoming federal, state, and foundation grant opportunities available through September 2010. Grants listed follow some of the targeted areas of the Erie Canalway's Preservation and Management Plan. Download the list at http://www.eriecanalway.org/get-involved_grants-fund.htm