Syracuse’s First Fourth of July Celebration

July 2 Quarantine Coffee Hour looks at Syracuse’s 1820 Fourth of July celebration 

Join the Erie Canal Museum on Facebook Live at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 2 for our weekly Quarantine Coffee Hour. The program is free and open to the public.

Museum Educator Derrick Pratt will discuss the Fourth of July celebration in the hamlet of Syracuse 200 years ago. The Erie Canal had just opened to navigation, and thousands of people from across the state attended the festivities. Dignitaries including Governor DeWitt Clinton attended the celebration, which included speeches, toasts, music, and food.

Pratt will discuss interesting facts about Syracuse’s first Fourth of July, what the Erie Canal meant for the community at the time, and some of the growth and development the Erie Canal brought to the Upstate New York city.

Learn more by reading the related article on the Newsroom page of our website. It will be available on Monday, June 29.

Share questions beforehand by commenting on the Quarantine Coffee Hour Facebook event, or by emailing derrick@eriecanalmuseum.org. Your questions will help make the program even more informative. And please be sure to ask questions during the discussion!

We look forward to seeing you for Quarantine Coffee Hour, live on our Facebook page at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 2!

In response to the COVID-19 crisis and to protect visitors, volunteers, and staff, the Museum is closed to the public until further notice. This online event is a great way to learn Canal history as we all do our part to stay safe and healthy. Until we open our doors, we are working diligently to serve you through these types of programs. We greatly appreciate your support as we face financial uncertainty. If you’d like to make a donation to the Museum, please click here.

The Erie Canal Museum is partially supported by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.