Museum Opening Day

The National Canal Museum opening day June 1^st features the new exhibition What the Rivers Saw: Mapping 200 Years of the D&L Corridor’s Living Landscape. What the Rivers Saw explores the changes in landscape and development within the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor through historic maps and photographs, 20th century aerial photography, and current satellite imaging. The story of the region’s transformation is told through a focus on three remarkable areas:

• Lehigh Tannery (Carbon County)
• South Bethlehem (Northampton County)
• Falls Township (Bucks County)

The museum’s opening also signals the start of the 45-minute mule-drawn canal boat rides aboard the Josiah White II, hourly from noon to 4 p.m. The 48-ton Josiah White II canal boat plies the waters of old Section 8 of the Lehigh Canal in Hugh Moore Park. Our trained and authentically dressed crew interprets the story of the anthracite canals and the people who worked and lived on them. The museum also offers bike and boat rentals to the public during the summer months.

Attendees will also have the chance to enjoy the museum’s art exhbition Frank Wyso: Colors in Bloom. Last year, the museum hosted works by folk artist Frank “WYSO” Wysochansky (1915-1994) that portrayed the coal mining heritage of his native Northeast Pennsylvania. Just in time for spring, this new exhibition showcases a different side of WYSO through a colorful array of his work inspired by flowers.