The State Museum, the Durham Project and Philip Lord, Jr. spent over 10 years researching this very topic. See web site at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research/history/durham.html Here is the introduction: This section of our website was created by a researcher who has retired. These pages are not maintained. The Durham Project The Durham Project is a research and education initiative in transportation geography that locates and interprets the physical remains of New York’s earliest canals and navigation improvements. It combines geography, archeology and history in a research package that is dedicated to identifying, preserving, and interpreting physical remains of the works of New York's first canal Company - The Western Inland Lock Navigation Company [1792-1820] - and surviving historic environments of that era of inland navigation. David W. Palmquist Head, Museum Chartering NY State Museum NY State Education Department 3097 Cultural Education Center Albany NY 12230 518-473-3131 FAX 518-473-8496 e-mail: [log in to unmask] web site: www.nysm.nysed.gov/charter/ My deadline for the July 2006 Regents meeting agenda is May 23; Deadline for September meeting is June 27; Deadline for October meeting is August 22. >>> [log in to unmask] 05/30/06 9:48 AM >>> Can anyone recommend some resources for learning more about the inland water route from Albany (or Schenectady) to Oswego, prior to the building of the Erie Canal? Specifically, I'm wondering how much shipping took place on this somewhat cumbersome route, and to what final destinations? Towns on Lake Ontario? With NIagara Falls in the way, they would not have had good access to the rest of the Great Lakes, would they have? Thanks for any help... Dave R.