Information & Town News

MILLERSBURG, OH (April 3, 2026) – The National Scenic Byway Association is proud to recognize the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway with a 2026 Byway Award for Outstanding Visitor Experience, celebrating a summer of Erie Canal Bicentennial festivities that brought history to life for thousands of visitors and locals across upstate New York.

In 2025, the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway honored the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal with a season-long celebration that engaged visitors, residents, and history enthusiasts in a variety of immersive experiences. From educational symposiums and scavenger hunts to canal festivals and senior bus tours, volunteers and community partners brought the stories of the Erie Canal corridor to life in memorable and accessible ways.

A highlight of the season was the Canal Day Festival on October 11 and 12 in Clifton Park, where hundreds of attendees enjoyed historic craft demonstrations, wagon rides, and walking tours led by costumed re-enactors. On October 15 and 16, communities along the byway gathered to salute the Seneca Chief — a replica of the canal boat that Governor DeWitt Clinton sailed to inaugurate the original Erie Canal in 1825. The replica’s passage through the corridor was met with cannon fire, ceremonies, and deep community pride.

“Our bicentennial celebrations gave us an extraordinary opportunity to share the Erie Canal’s legacy with people who may never have thought of it as part of their own story,” said Eric Hamilton, event organizer for the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway. “When you see neighbors cheering for a canal boat replica and kids learning about a 200-year-old waterway, you know something special is happening.”

“The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway’s Summer of Celebration is a shining example of how history can be a vehicle for community building and tourism,” said Sharon Strouse, Executive Director of the National Scenic Byway Association. “By centering their programming around the Erie Canal Bicentennial, they created moments of shared pride that will last long after the celebrations have ended.” Learn more about the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway at mohawktowpath.org.

The National Scenic Byway Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving as The National Voice of Scenic Byways and Roads, dedicated to strengthening Byways through education, training and shared expertise. It is the vision of the National Scenic Byway Association that our nation’s designated Byways will be recognized and valued worldwide for their distinctive experiences, stories, and treasured places. For more information visit www.nsbfoundation.com; www.travelbyways.com; or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..