The Erie Canal Museum opened in 1962 and is housed in the only remaining Weighlock Building in America. Its exhibits chart the life on the Erie Canal and include a full-size replica of a Erie Canal line boat where visitors can see the crews quarters, passenger and cargo areas. The weighmaster's office has also been restored and there are reproductions of the Canalside Tavern, the local pottery, from where the china was shipped to market on the canal, and the 19th century dry goods store.
The museum's exhibits include a large collection of postcards of Syracuse and the Canal in the 19th and 20th centuries, plus examples of Stickley furniture, Syracuse china and the local candlemaking and brewing industries. There is also a display of local folk artist Elizabeth 'Libba' cotton. Children can learn about the history of the canal through a computer program with features on the its construction, the boats that plied the waterways and daily life on the canal.
The building itself is an example of Greek-revival architecture and was used by the state's department of Public Works. The building was saved from demolition by intense lobbying from the local community, for use as a public canal museum.
One hour guided tours of the museum are available that include an introductory video of the canal and the local salt industry, followed by a walk around the exhibits with a knowledgeable museum volunteer. Tours are conducted from 10.00am though 3.00pm and the fee is $3.00 per person. There is a picnic area in the Locktender's Garden.
