Collections

Despite being closed to the public due to the COVID-19 crisis, we are working to serve you online and in partnership with other institutions. We anticipate a major decline in revenue at this time. Support our mission by making a contribution at eriecanalmuseum.org/support.

 

The Board of Trustees most recently approved our Collection Policy in October 2018. The Museum collects printed and manuscript materials, maps, photographs, motion picture film, digital materials, video and audio recordings (such as oral histories), paintings, artifacts and other items which:

  1. deal with the Enlarged Erie Canal, the Old Erie Canal, the New York State Barge Canal, the lateral canals, and the pre-Erie Canals of New York State;
  2. are related to other canals, to the extent that they support specific the Museum’s mission.

 

For more information about the Erie Canal Museum collections, click here.

For more information about the Canal Society of New York State collections, held at the Erie Canal Museum, click here.

Collection Donation

The Erie Canal Museum seeks to expand the scope and quality of its collections by the thoughtful acquisition of artifacts and archival material. The Erie Canal Museum does not provide appraisals of donated objects. It is the responsibility of the donor to provide such evaluation if necessary. Where a professional appraisal has been conducted the Museum will request a copy for its files. Staff may not assist a donor in finding an appraiser.

Items will not be acquired for the Museum’s collections unless the following conditions are met:

  • The objects are relevant to and consistent with the Museum’s mission, collection areas and levels;
  • The Museum can provide for the storage, protection, and preservation of the objects under conditions that insure their availability for Museum purposes and in keeping with professionally accepted standards;
  • It is intended that the objects shall have permanency in the collections as long as they retain their physical integrity, their identity, and their authenticity, and as long as they remain useful for the purposes of the Museum.
  • The donor must have clear title and must sign a deed of gift transferring title to the Museum.