D&H Canal Museum | Albany

The D&H Canal Museum, located in High Falls, New York, is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the Delaware & Hudson Canal, a crucial 19th-century transportation waterway that connected Pennsylvania coal fields to the Hudson River, playing a significant role in regional industrial growth.

History and Building

The museum is housed in the historic DePuy Tavern, built in 1797, which served as the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company offices from 1850 until the canal’s closure in 1898.

The building itself is part of the High Falls Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Exhibits and Collections

The museum features around 4,000 artifacts related to the canal’s construction, operation, and impact, including:

Historic maps, photographs, and documents

Models and paintings illustrating canal life and technology

Tools, equipment, and memorabilia from the canal era

Interactive exhibits include:

A working scale model of a canal lock system

A life-sized replica of a canal boat cabin

A moving model demonstrating the gravity railroad brake car used to transport coal

Visitor Experience

The museum offers self-guided and educational tours, providing insights into the canal’s engineering, the lives of workers, and the canal’s role in economic development.

There is a museum store selling canal-related books, toys, maps, and souvenirs.

Outdoor Attractions

Adjacent to the museum is the Five Locks Walk, a scenic trail where visitors can see and walk along five original canal locks (Locks 16 through 20), giving a tangible sense of the canal’s infrastructure and scale.

Practical Information

Hours: Open Friday to Monday, 10 AM to 4 PM, with seasonal variations. Closed Tuesday through Thursday.

Admission: Suggested donation of $12 for adults, $3 for children under 12, free for children under 5. Family passes are available.

Accessibility: The museum has ADA-compliant parking and ramps. Pets on leash are welcome outdoors; well-behaved pets inside.

Parking: Limited street parking nearby; visitors advised to plan ahead during busy periods.

The D&H Canal Museum offers a rich, immersive experience into a vital chapter of American industrial and transportation history, blending historical artifacts, interactive exhibits, and beautiful outdoor spaces for exploration.