Events — D&H Canal Historical Society

Events — D&H Canal Historical Society
Upcoming Events
Apr
24
Evading the Bureaucracy and Governing New York City
Friday, April 24, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Presented by Nancy Bachana and Matt Berlin.
Both presenters served in major roles in the Bloomberg Administration. Ms. Bachana was an Assistant Director of the Mayor’s Office and also Chief of Staff to the Deputy Commissioner of Transportation. She is now Director of Education of the Canal Society.
Mr. Berlin is currently the CEO of the NYC School Bus Umbrella Services, a $200 million non-profit school bus company working to reform NYC's notoriously inefficient, expensive  school bus industry. Prior to founding NYCSBUS, Matt was a member of the administration of Michael Bloomberg, working as a fix-it person as the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Medical Examiner, starting an agency to support economic development in Downtown Brooklyn and at the Department of Education where for five years he ran the transportation department. He was the General Manager of NYC's Citibike system from soon after its launch until its sale. He serves on the Canal Society’s board of directors and is the Canal Society’s Treasurer.
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May
How Do We Pay for Healthcare? Robert Rebelein & Alicia Atwood
Friday, May 8, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
How Do We Pay for Healthcare
Robert Rebelein and Alicia Atwood, both Professors of Economics at Vassar College with a special interest in healthcare issues
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May
22
The Dutch & Their New York Legacy - PhotoTalk
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
DUTCH HISTORY
can be elusive – it’s rarely taught in our schools and with so many disparate parts it often follows a meandering, convoluted path and connections are obscured. Historian/filmmaker Stephen Blauweiss brings this history to life in a fun and engaging way, using a vast array of quality images, maps, and timelines. What was once opaque becomes clear and understandable as the stories unfold and connect on multiple levels.
THE COLOR ORANGE
, for example, represented the Dutch Royal Family, who created the world’s first tricolor flag in the 1570s with orange, white, and blue. These colors continue to represent several New York State municipal flags, including New York City and Albany. Just before England seized control of New Netherlands, New York’s namesake — the Duke of York — had a daughter, Mary II, who married William III, the Dutch Prince of Orange. When England created New York’s counties, they used names honoring their royalty: Orange County was named for the Dutch Prince of Orange, William III, who in 1689 became King of England, sharing the throne with Mary II. Yes, that William and Mary.
STEPHEN BLAUWEISS’ DETAILED PhotoTalk
presentation will cover Dutch history and its relationship to New York in a way rarely seen before, with topics new, old, and unexpected. Included will be: pre-New Netherlands Dutch history; the Northern Renaissance masters of painting, mapmaking, and tapestry; the first central bank and modern stock exchange; Dutch liberalism and its connection to the Federalist Papers and US Constitution; the stories behind Dutch names in New York, and much, much more.
Filmmaker, historian, graphic designer, and author
Stephen Blauweiss
is a native of Manhattan who has taught computer graphics at Pratt Institute. Deeply immersed in New York history for over 40 years, he has been connected to the Hudson Valley for 25 years, with a special focus on Kingston and Woodstock. Stephen has made over 75 short films, many related to the arts in the region; 20 have aired on PBS. He co-produced the documentary
Lost Rondout
and has co-authored two books about Kingston.
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May
31
D&H Canal tour on Solaris
Sunday, May 31, 2026
4:00 PM
5:30 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to
to reserve your place.
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Jun
19
Lessons Learned from Creation of the High Line
Friday, June 19, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Lessons Learned from Creation of the High Line
Peter Mullan, who was Executive Vice President and Director of Planning and Design.of the High Line and presently serves as President and CEO of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail.
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Jun
20
Free Guided Tour of the Five Locks Walk - NYS Path Through History
Saturday, June 20, 2026
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Meet at 2:00pm at the D&H Canal Museum & Mid-Hudson Visitor Center (1315 Route 213, 12440) in the center of High Falls, in Ulster County, NY for a conversation about the exciting and important history of the Delaware & Hudson Canal. D&H Canal Historical Society Historian & Curator Bill Merchant will guide you along the National Historic Landmark Five Locks Walk, five extant D&H Canal Locks from the 1850 enlargement of the Canal, restored in 2000. Learn the stories of the immigrants who built and operated this important American transportation waterway that supplied Pennsylvania anthracite coal to NYC, fueling its rise as an international center of commerce and the nation’s Industrial Revolution. Bring your friends and your questions! (No advance registration necessary.)
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Jun
21
D&H Canal tour on Solaris
Sunday, June 21, 2026
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to
to reserve your place.
View Event →
Jun
26
An Eye to the Hills: Early Photography in the Catskills
Friday, June 26, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Jonathan Palmer is a writer and historian from Athens, New York. A graduate of Siena College and the University at Albany where he earned his MSIS, he was employed for six years as the archivist in charge of the Greene County Historical Society’s Vedder Research Library in Coxsackie, New York. Since 2023, he has served as the archivist for the County of Ulster while continuing to hold an appointment as the fifth Greene County Historian. When he is not lost in the Catskills or fiddling with a camera he can be found among sundry piles of dusty papers consorting with ghosts and laughing to himself. "
Join Ulster County Archivist Jon Palmer for a short lecture on the history of photography, with a particular focus on the profession as it was practiced regionally in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mr. Palmer will discuss and show examples of early techniques, common formats, and discuss some local practitioners in order to prepare attendees to better understand their own collections and the importance of good preservation and digitization practices. Attendees are encouraged to bring historic images from their collections to be looked at, discussed, and dated as time permits!"
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Jun
27
Canawler Days
Saturday, June 27, 2026
10:00 AM
5:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
On June 27 and 28, the D&H Canal Museum will once again hold its Canawler Days celebration. This year we will be celebrating both the 200th anniversary of the D&H Canal and Gravity Railroad AND the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The event is free but donations are greatly appreciated.
Ulster County Historian Eddie Moran will discuss how the indigenous Esopus Munsee people responded to the Revolution. Rick Vanden Hueval will be in Revolution-era garb, demonstrating historic wooden shovel making. The towpath mules, Dolly & Daisy will be giving free wagon rides on the Five Locks Walk starting at noon both days. There will be music outside on the blue stone patio and Leighann Kowalsky will demonstrate Irish step dancing. The ever popular High Falls D&H Flea Market will set up in front of the museum both days. There will be history tours and a food truck. Join us for two days of family-friendly fun!
Our thanks to Ulster County for sponsoring this event!
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Jun
28
Canawler Days
Sunday, June 28, 2026
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
On June 27 and 28, the D&H Canal Museum will once again hold its Canawler Days celebration. This year we will be celebrating both the 200th anniversary of the D&H Canal and Gravity Railroad AND the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The event is free but donations are greatly appreciated.
Ulster County Historian Eddie Moran will discuss how the indigenous Esopus Munsee people responded to the Revolution. Rick Vanden Hueval will be in Revolution-era garb, demonstrating historic wooden shovel making. The towpath mules, Dolly & Daisy will be giving free wagon rides on the Five Locks Walk starting at noon both days. There will be music outside on the blue stone patio and Leighann Kowalsky will demonstrate Irish step dancing. The ever popular High Falls D&H Flea Market will set up in front of the museum both days. There will be history tours and a food truck. Join us for two days of family-friendly fun!
Our thanks to Ulster County for sponsoring this event!
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Jul
10
New Deal Art
Friday, July 10, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
John P. Murphy on the subject of his just-published book
New Deal Art
. Dr. Murphy is the Philip & Lynn Straus Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center of Vassar College. He will talk about the diverse artists who made up the New Deal art programs during the Depression and WW II and their influential legacy.
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Jul
11
New York State's 19th Century Canals
Saturday, July 11, 2026
11:00 AM
12:30 PM
Woodchuck Lodge
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
NEW YORK STATE'S 19th CENTURY CANALS
- Canals were vitally important to the State of New York in the 19th century era of "Canal Fever". There were really only two, but the impact of both reached beyond the state's borders to affect the history of the entire nation. Join D&H Canal Historian Bill Merchant for an illustrated look at the story of these important waterways and the effect they had on America.
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Jul
19
D&H Canal tour on Solaris
Sunday, July 19, 2026
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to
to reserve your place.
View Event →
Jul
24
The Engineers of the D & H Canal and Gravity railroad
Friday, July 24, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Join D&H Canal Historical Society Historian & Curator Bill Merchant for an illustrated look at the many engineers who constructed the Delaware and Hudson Canal and its innovative Gravity Railroad.
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Aug
14
Rosendale: Natural Cement Giant & Beyond
Friday, August 14, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Founded in 1680 by Jacob Rutsen, Rosendale was a quiet hamlet until 1825, when natural cement was discovered, giving rise to the one of the largest industries in Ulster Country and New York State. At its peak, Rosendale’s cement industry produced more than 10 million barrels of natural cement a year, employing 5,000 miners in more than a dozen mines. The creation of artificial cement, however, heralded the end of Rosendale cement. Rosendale rebounded, marketing itself as a “Vacationist Rendezvous.” The Catskills nod Shawangunk Mountains, the Wallkill River and Rondout Creek, and the region’s many mountain houses attracted tens of thousands of visitors each year. Construction of the New York State Thruway in the 1950s led to the demise of Rosendale’s booming tourist industry. Today, Joppenberg Mountain and the Trestle Bridge Walkway stand guard over the town, while Rosendale’s historic buildings and remnants of the Delaware & Hudson Canal harken residents and visitors to an earlier age.
Gilberto Villahermosa is a former U.S. Army Colonel and Military Historian. An internationally published author of four books and dozens of journal and magazine articles covering military historical and national security topics he is a proud Rosendale resident.
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Aug
30
D&H Canal tour on Solaris
Sunday, August 30, 2026
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to
to reserve your place.
View Event →
Sep
11
James McEntee: Engineering the Hudson’s Golden Age
Friday, September 11, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
James McEntee: Engineering the Hudson’s Golden Age

Join City of Kingston Historian and Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck to explore the life and legacy of James McEntee, a key figure in the development of the D&H Canal and the growth of 19th-century Kingston. As a civil engineer and architect, McEntee oversaw major infrastructure projects including the canal’s eastern section, the first Rondout Lighthouse, and Island Dock—the first pile-supported dock in the U.S. He played a pivotal role in the use of Rosendale cement and the planning of Chestnut Street, one of Kingston’s most distinguished neighborhoods. The presentation also highlights McEntee’s influential family connections, including his son, painter Jervis McEntee, and his son-in-law, architect Calvert Vaux.

Taylor Bruck is the City of Kingston Historian and Ulster County Clerk. He previously held the role of Ulster County Archivist and is a captain of the Kingston Guards Vintage Base Ball Team.
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Sep
25
Daring Beyond Reason: The Origins of an Ancient Superpower and the First Great War
Friday, September 25, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
September 25
Daring Beyond Reason: The Origins of an Ancient Superpower and the First Great
War
The title of the new book by Professor of International Relations Scott Silverstone of the US Military Academy at West Point is
What we can learn from the Ancient Greeks and the Peloponnesian War
. While on active duty, Dr. Silverstone managed the Navy's portion of the White House-directed nuclear attack survivability program and directed all Navy participation in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-sponsored global crisis management exercise program and the NATO crisis exercise program.
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Sep
27
D&H Canal tour on Solaris
Sunday, September 27, 2026
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to
to reserve your place.
View Event →
Oct
Conflict in the Middle East
Friday, October 9, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Conflict in the Middle East
will be presented by Dr. Ruth Beitler, Professor of Comparative Politics in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy. She has directed the Military Academy’s Conflict and Human Security Studies program since its inception in 2006.
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Oct
11
Free Guided Tour of the Five Locks Walk - NYS Path Through History (Copy)
Sunday, October 11, 2026
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Meet at 2:00pm at the D&H Canal Museum & Mid-Hudson Visitor Center (1315 Route 213, 12440) in the center of High Falls, in Ulster County, NY for a conversation about the exciting and important history of the Delaware & Hudson Canal. D&H Canal Historical Society Historian & Curator Bill Merchant will guide you along the National Historic Landmark Five Locks Walk, five extant D&H Canal Locks from the 1850 enlargement of the Canal, restored in 2000. Learn the stories of the immigrants who built and operated this important American transportation waterway that supplied Pennsylvania anthracite coal to NYC, fueling its rise as an international center of commerce and the nation’s Industrial Revolution. Bring your friends and your questions! (No advance registration necessary.)
View Event →
Oct
25
D&H Canal tour on Solaris
Sunday, October 25, 2026
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to
to reserve your place.
View Event →
Oct
30
Haunted High Falls
Friday, October 30, 2026
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society once again welcome you to
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal
— this year presenting an entirely new play
The Haunted Telegraph
. In this newly written show, the audience will experience a spooky, theatrical tour through time.
The Haunted Telegraph
is based off a true story, discovered by C. G. Hine in a local newspaper clipping and published in his 1909 book,
The Old Mine Road
. The story sends us back to 1866, a time when telegraph machines were used to communicate across long distances, women were finding a footing in independent careers, and murders were much more difficult to solve…
Come watch the characters lives unfold right before your eyes and take a short walk through a series of connected scenes… you will unravel the mystery of the canal and learn the terrible secrets of those who worked and lived by it. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horrors from High Falls and its surrounding towns, this is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Tickets are $28.
View Event →
Oct
31
Haunted High Falls
Saturday, October 31, 2026
7:30 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society once again welcome you to
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal
— this year presenting an entirely new play
The Haunted Telegraph
. In this newly written show, the audience will experience a spooky, theatrical tour through time.
The Haunted Telegraph
is based off a true story, discovered by C. G. Hine in a local newspaper clipping and published in his 1909 book,
The Old Mine Road
. The story sends us back to 1866, a time when telegraph machines were used to communicate across long distances, women were finding a footing in independent careers, and murders were much more difficult to solve…
Come watch the characters lives unfold right before your eyes and take a short walk through a series of connected scenes… you will unravel the mystery of the canal and learn the terrible secrets of those who worked and lived by it. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horrors from High Falls and its surrounding towns, this is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Tickets are $28.
View Event →
Nov
Haunted High Falls
Sunday, November 1, 2026
7:30 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society once again welcome you to
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal
— this year presenting an entirely new play
The Haunted Telegraph
. In this newly written show, the audience will experience a spooky, theatrical tour through time.
The Haunted Telegraph
is based off a true story, discovered by C. G. Hine in a local newspaper clipping and published in his 1909 book,
The Old Mine Road
. The story sends us back to 1866, a time when telegraph machines were used to communicate across long distances, women were finding a footing in independent careers, and murders were much more difficult to solve…
Come watch the characters lives unfold right before your eyes and take a short walk through a series of connected scenes… you will unravel the mystery of the canal and learn the terrible secrets of those who worked and lived by it. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horrors from High Falls and its surrounding towns, this is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Tickets are $28.
View Event →
Nov
13
Russia and the West
Friday, November 13, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Robert Person will discuss
Russia and the West
. Dr. Person is Professor of International Relations at the US Military Academy at West Point and director of the Military Academy’s curriculum in international affairs, and a recognized expert on the old Soviet Union and its successor states.
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Dec
11
From Climate Change to Pandemics: the Collapse and Rebirth of the American Scientific Endeavor
Friday, December 11, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Dr. Joshua Ginsburg on
From Climate Change to Pandemics: the Collapse and Rebirth of the American Scientific Endeavor.
Dr.Ginsburg is President of the Cary Institute in Millbrook, one of the world’s greatest ecological and environmental research centers. He also serves on the board of Open Space Institute.
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Apr
18
PYTNY Canal Clean Sweep- let's clean the D&H Canal Towpath
Saturday, April 18, 2026
10:00 AM
12:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Join us to help us get the Five Locks Walk ready for the season, as part of
NY Parks & Trails
Canal Clean Sweep Event. We will meet at 10am in the Mid-Hudson Visitor Center, where we will have complimentary coffee & donuts to fuel light trail maintenance. Please bring gloves, rakes, etc. After the event, our Historian Bill Merchant will give a guided tour. Please sign up here-
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Apr
10
Eddie Moran "The Names We Know: Jack and Betty, the First Known African Residents of New Paltz"
Friday, April 10, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
In July 1680, New Paltz Patentee Christian Deyo purchased an enslaved African man named Jack from a New York City physician named Hartman Wessels. Nine years later, Christian's son, New Paltz Patentee Pierre Deyo, purchased an enslaved African woman named Betty from a trafficker of enslaved people in New York City named James Barré. These are the first recorded purchases of enslaved people by the European founders of New Paltz following the community's establishment in 1677, and Jack and Betty are the earliest recorded African residents of the town. In this presentation, Ulster County Historian, Eddie Moran, will guide attendees through documentary sources to discuss what we know about Jack and Betty, and what their lives in New Paltz may have been like.
Edward “Eddie” Moran III currently serves as the appointed Historian for Ulster County, NY. Eddie graduated with a B.A. in history from SUNY New Paltz in the Spring of 2020, and began work as a tour guide at Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz while still a student in 2017. He managed guided tours and historical interpretation full-time at Historic Huguenot Street beginning in 2022, and was appointed Ulster County Historian in September 2024. He is a lifelong resident of the Wallkill River Valley, and a descendant of the region’s Huguenot and Dutch colonizers.
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Mar
27
Ted Reiss "Enterprise and Courage- the Civil War Years at Mohonk"
Friday, March 27, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
This presentation explores the decade of 1860 to 1870, where the history of Lake Mohonk intersects with the upheaval of the Civil War. It also examines the evolution of the Stoke’s Tavern into the Mohonk Mountain House. In addition, the program looks at the communities that interacted with Mohonk, and the effects of the Civil War on some of the people of those communities.
Ted Reiss has been a resident of New Paltz since 1967 when he came to SUNY as an art major. He is coming off a 50-year career teaching Science (a long story) in both the high school and college settings. He is not a historian, but his wife, Robi Josephson was. This program is the result of the research Robi did for the two books she wrote about the Shawangunk Ridge. It is a blend of her imagination and creativity.
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Mar
15
Women on the D&H Canal
Sunday, March 15, 2026
1:00 PM
2:30 PM
Mamakating Evironmental Education Center
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Bill Merchant presents “Women on the D&H Canal”. The Delaware & Hudson Canal was an important industrial enterprise in 19th century America, marketing Pennsylvania anthracite coal through its Canal and, later, its extensive railroad network. It relied on the labor of marginalized peoples- immigrants, women, children and people of color- to construct and operate its Canal. Historian Bill Merchant has conducted extensive research on the plight of the many marginalized peoples who comprised the vast majority of this workforce. Although women are the most ignored by history, this presentation relates how women contributed to its immense success, using stories from primary sources and many period images.
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Mar
13
Philanthropy in an Era of Federal Government Withdrawals of Funding
Friday, March 13, 2026
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Discussion with Malia Du Mont and Sally Cross, moderated by Peter Bienstock.
Ms. Du Mont is Chief of Staff to the President of Bard College. She was Director of Policy in the Obama Defense Department.
Ms. Cross is a consultant on development for nonprofits. She retired after a distinguished career as President and CEO of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.
Both Ms. Du Mont and Ms. Cross are members of the Advisory Board of the Canal Society. Mr. Bienstock is President of the Canal Society. He has led capital campaigns and other philanthropic efforts which have raised over $100 million.
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Dec
December 5th lecture POSTPONED
Friday, December 5, 2025
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Dr. Ginsberg is recovering from surgery and has had to postpone his 12/5 talk.
View Event →
Nov
14
Richard Levitt on “Putin's Godfathers”.
Friday, November 14, 2025
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
NYU Professor Richard Levitt on
Putin's Godfathers
. He has been associated with the NYU Center for Global Affairs since 2009.  His other experience includes politico-military affairs with the US Department of State, post-Communist political and social development at the EastWest Institute and the Centre for European Security Studies, and emerging and developed market finance with a number of global investment banks.  He was recognized for excellence in teaching by NYU's School of Professional Studies in 2015.
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Nov
Siren Theatre presents "The Haunted Telegraph"
Saturday, November 1, 2025
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal -The Haunted Telegraph,
all new for 2025!
Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society once again welcome you to
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal
— this year presenting an entirely new play
The Haunted Telegraph
. In this newly written show, the audience will experience a spooky, theatrical tour through time.
The Haunted Telegraph
is based off a true story, discovered by C. G. Hine in a local newspaper clipping and published in his 1909 book,
The Old Mine Road
. The story sends us back to 1866, a time when telegraph machines were used to communicate across long distances, women were finding a footing in independent careers, and murders were much more difficult to solve…
Come watch the characters lives unfold right before your eyes and take a short walk through a series of connected scenes… you will unravel the mystery of the canal and learn the terrible secrets of those who worked and lived by it. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horrors from High Falls and its surrounding towns, this is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Tickets are $28
View Event →
Oct
31
Siren Theatre presents "The Haunted Telegraph"
Friday, October 31, 2025
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal -The Haunted Telegraph,
all new for 2025!
Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society once again welcome you to
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal
— this year presenting an entirely new play
The Haunted Telegraph
. In this newly written show, the audience will experience a spooky, theatrical tour through time.
The Haunted Telegraph
is based off a true story, discovered by C. G. Hine in a local newspaper clipping and published in his 1909 book,
The Old Mine Road
. The story sends us back to 1866, a time when telegraph machines were used to communicate across long distances, women were finding a footing in independent careers, and murders were much more difficult to solve…
Come watch the characters lives unfold right before your eyes and take a short walk through a series of connected scenes… you will unravel the mystery of the canal and learn the terrible secrets of those who worked and lived by it. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horrors from High Falls and its surrounding towns, this is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Tickets are $28
View Event →
Oct
25
Siren Theatre presents "The Haunted Telegraph"
Saturday, October 25, 2025
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal -The Haunted Telegraph,
all new for 2025!
Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society once again welcome you to
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal
— this year presenting an entirely new play
The Haunted Telegraph
. In this newly written show, the audience will experience a spooky, theatrical tour through time.
The Haunted Telegraph
is based off a true story, discovered by C. G. Hine in a local newspaper clipping and published in his 1909 book,
The Old Mine Road
. The story sends us back to 1866, a time when telegraph machines were used to communicate across long distances, women were finding a footing in independent careers, and murders were much more difficult to solve…
Come watch the characters lives unfold right before your eyes and take a short walk through a series of connected scenes… you will unravel the mystery of the canal and learn the terrible secrets of those who worked and lived by it. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horrors from High Falls and its surrounding towns, this is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Tickets are $28
View Event →
Oct
24
Siren Theatre presents "The Haunted Telegraph"
Friday, October 24, 2025
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal -The Haunted Telegraph,
all new for 2025!
Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society once again welcome you to
Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal
— this year presenting an entirely new play
The Haunted Telegraph
. In this newly written show, the audience will experience a spooky, theatrical tour through time.
The Haunted Telegraph
is based off a true story, discovered by C. G. Hine in a local newspaper clipping and published in his 1909 book,
The Old Mine Road
. The story sends us back to 1866, a time when telegraph machines were used to communicate across long distances, women were finding a footing in independent careers, and murders were much more difficult to solve…
Come watch the characters lives unfold right before your eyes and take a short walk through a series of connected scenes… you will unravel the mystery of the canal and learn the terrible secrets of those who worked and lived by it. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horrors from High Falls and its surrounding towns, this is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Tickets are $28
View Event →
Oct
17
Screening of "The Bridge Across Time"
Friday, October 17, 2025
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Screening:
A 20-minute preview of
THE BRIDGE ACROSS TIME
will be introduced by the filmmakers, Neville Bean and Robert Vandeweghe.
Discussion & Q&A:
After the screening, Historian
Bill Merchant
, Curator of the D&H Canal Historical Society, will be in conversation with Roebling scholar
Professor Paul King
, R.A., AIA, SARA, ASCE, Professor of architecture and engineering at New York City College of Technology. They will explore the impact that the D&H Canal, and the waves of immigration it brought, had on the Rondout Waterfront. They will explain the crucial role John Roebling, famed for his design of the Brooklyn Bridge, played in the Wurts Street Bridge engineering and design and its significance in suspension bridge history.
THE BRIDGE ACROSS TIME
is an upcoming documentary film which
demystifies the art and science of suspension bridge construction with a then-and-now exploration of the original building of the Wurts Street Bridge and the challenging renovation undertaken a century later. The film chronicles the entire project, giving the viewer an astounding bird’s-eye view of the work, explained with engaging expert commentary. Voices from local historians, engineers, workers, politicians and community members help tell a broader story of the Hudson Valley and the Rondout waterfront; its pivotal role in America’s founding, its natural beauty, and its vibrant immigrant history. The documentary celebrates the transformative power of human ingenuity and the creative spirit.
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Oct
12
Free Guided Tour of the Five Locks Walk
Sunday, October 12, 2025
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Meet at 2:00pm at the D&H Canal Museum & Mid-Hudson Visitor Center (1315 Route 213, 12440) in the center of High Falls, in Ulster County, NY for a conversation about the exciting and important history of the Delaware & Hudson Canal. D&H Canal Historical Society Historian & Curator Bill Merchant will guide you along the National Historic Landmark Five Locks Walk, five extant D&H Canal Locks from the 1850 enlargement of the Canal, restored in 2000. Learn the stories of the immigrants who built and operated this important American transportation waterway that supplied Pennsylvania anthracite coal to NYC, fueling its rise as an international center of commerce and the nation’s Industrial Revolution. Bring your friends and your questions! (No advance registration necessary.)
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Oct
10
Professor Kevin Lerner on "The Crisis in American Journalism".
Friday, October 10, 2025
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Professor Kevin Lerner, Chair of the Department of Communication at Marist University on
The Crisis in American Journalism
. He has written extensively on American journalism in the
NY Times, Washington Post
New York Magazine, Slate
and professional journals.
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Oct
A Conversation with D&H Historian Bill Merchant aboard "Solaris"
Sunday, October 5, 2025
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to https://www.hrmm.org/solaris-cruises.html to reserve your place.
View Event →
Sep
28
Free Guided Tour of the Five Locks Walk
Sunday, September 28, 2025
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Meet at 2:00pm at the D&H Canal Museum & Mid-Hudson Visitor Center (1315 Route 213, 12440) in the center of High Falls, in Ulster County, NY for a conversation about the exciting and important history of the Delaware & Hudson Canal. D&H Canal Historical Society Historian & Curator Bill Merchant will guide you along the National Historic Landmark Five Locks Walk, five extant D&H Canal Locks from the 1850 enlargement of the Canal, restored in 2000. Learn the stories of the immigrants who built and operated this important American transportation waterway that supplied Pennsylvania anthracite coal to NYC, fueling its rise as an international center of commerce and the nation’s Industrial Revolution. Bring your friends and your questions! (No advance registration necessary.)
View Event →
Sep
27
2025 Benefit Gala
Saturday, September 27, 2025
6:00 PM
9:00 PM
Wiltwyck Golf Club
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Enjoy fine dining and lend your support for the D&H Canal Historical Society while learning about history at the 2025 Benefit Gala, themed
J. P. Morgan, John Roebling, and the D&H Canal Company in the Gilded Age
View Event →
Sep
26
Professor Robert Person of the US Military Academy on "Russia and the West".
Friday, September 26, 2025
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
"I must apologize profusely: I was recently selected for a temporary duty assignment in Eastern Europe and will be out of the country at the end of this month.  It is my fault that I did not catch the conflict earlier."
Professor Robert Person of the US Military Academy on
Russia and the West
. Dr. Person is Director of Curriculum, for the International Affairs Program at USMA. He has published numerous articles on international affairs, with a specialty on Russia. He is the recipient of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal and is a consultant to the Department of Defense and other US Government agencies.
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Sep
21
John Roebling and the D&H Canal and Gravity Railroad
Sunday, September 21, 2025
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
Huguenot 1853 Schoolhouse
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Famed immigrant engineer John Augustus Roebling made his mark on civil engineering in 19th century America. In this well illustrated presentation, Historian Bill Merchant discusses the many innovations Roebling employed for the D&H Canal Company. One of the DHTHC 200th anniversary celebrations.
View Event →
Sep
14
Free Guided Tour of The Five Locks Walk
Sunday, September 14, 2025
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Meet at 2:00pm at the D&H Canal Museum & Mid-Hudson Visitor Center (1315 Route 213, 12440) in the center of High Falls, in Ulster County, NY for a conversation about the exciting and important history of the Delaware & Hudson Canal. D&H Canal Historical Society Historian & Curator Bill Merchant will guide you along the National Historic Landmark Five Locks Walk, five extant D&H Canal Locks from the 1850 enlargement of the Canal, restored in 2000. Learn the stories of the immigrants who built and operated this important American transportation waterway that supplied Pennsylvania anthracite coal to NYC, fueling its rise as an international center of commerce and the nation’s Industrial Revolution. Bring your friends and your questions! (No advance registration necessary.)
View Event →
Sep
12
Taylor Bruck on “Henry Abbey, the Bard of Kingston”.
Friday, September 12, 2025
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Ulster County Clerk and Kingston Historian Taylor Bruck presents on on
Henry Abbey, the Bard of Kingston
Born in 1842 in Rondout, Henry Abbey was a prolific poet and among the first published authors from Ulster County. Known for his charming and accessible poetry, Abbey was celebrated in his time as one of the best minor poets in the country, even attracting visits from literary luminaries like Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain. Though his works never gained recognition as truly great, Abbey’s ability to capture the spirit of his era remains invaluable. His poems often addressed significant events, such as the Battle of Gettysburg, offering unique historical insights through an artist's lens. Join us to delve into the life and legacy of this 19th-century poet and explore how art helps shape our understanding of history.
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Sep
A Conversation with D&H Historian Bill Merchant aboard "Solaris"
Sunday, September 7, 2025
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to https://www.hrmm.org/solaris-cruises.html to reserve your place.
View Event →
Sep
Immigrants on the D&H Canal
Friday, September 5, 2025
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
The Reher Center
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
The Delaware & Hudson Canal was an important industrial enterprise in 19th century America, marketing Pennsylvania anthracite coal through its Canal and, later, its extensive railroad network. It relied on the labor of marginalized peoples- immigrants, women, children and people of color- to construct and operate its Canal. Historian Bill Merchant has conducted extensive research on the plight of the many marginalized peoples who comprised the vast majority of this workforce. This presentation relates how the labor of immigrants contributed to its immense success, using stories from primary sources along with many period images.
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Aug
29
Nancy Bachana on “The D&H Canal made the Sullivan County Tanning Industry Possible”.
Friday, August 29, 2025
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
D&H Canal Historical Society Concierge Nancy Bachana on
The D&H Canal Made the Sullivan County Tanning Industry Possible.
View Event →
Aug
A Conversation with D&H Historian Bill Merchant aboard "Solaris"
Sunday, August 3, 2025
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to https://www.hrmm.org/solaris-cruises.html to reserve your place.
View Event →
Jul
25
Bill Merchant on “The D&H Canal and Gravity RR on its 200th anniversary”
Friday, July 25, 2025
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
2025 marks the 200th Anniversary of the initiation of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. The Delaware and Hudson Transportation Heritage Council (DHTHC) is sponsoring a series of events, through 2029, in celebration. D&HCHS Historian and DHTHC President Bill Merchant will give an illustrated lecture on its important history and will discuss the many features that enthusiasts can visit today. This is part of a weekend’s worth of celebrations of the D&H Canal and Gravity Railroad.
View Event →
Jul
12
"The D&H Canal and Gravity RR in Postcards"
Saturday, July 12, 2025
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
D&H Canal Interpretive Center
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
2025 marks the 200th Anniversary of the initiation of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. The Delaware and Hudson Transportation Heritage Council (DHTHC) is sponsoring a series of events, through 2029, in celebration. D&HCHS Historian and DHTHC President Bill Merchant will give a lecture on its important history, illustrated entirely with post card images. This is part of a weekend’s worth of celebrations of the D&H Canal and Gravity Railroad.
View Event →
Jul
11
Professor Robert Rebelein "How We Pay For Healthcare"
Friday, July 11, 2025
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Robert Rebelein is an
Associate Professor of Economics
. He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota in 1997. His teaching and research interests focus on macroeconomic issues in the United States, including the national debt, individual income tax issues, and selected health care topics. He will discuss “How We Pay For Healthcare: Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, & Private Insurance”
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Jul
A Conversation with D&H Historian Bill Merchant aboard "Solaris"
Sunday, July 6, 2025
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Historian Bill Merchant is once again featured on the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s solar powered boat,
Solaris
. On the first Sundays of the months of June through October, he guides participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as
Solaris
sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back. The trip starts at 4:00pm. Book your seat now, these popular tours sell out quickly. Go to https://www.hrmm.org/solaris-cruises.html to reserve your place.
View Event →
Jun
27
Eddie Moran on “Entries of Note in the Account Book of Louis Bevier Jr.
Friday, June 27, 2025
7:00 PM
8:30 PM
D&H Canal Historical Society
(map)
Google Calendar
ICS
Ulster County Historian Eddie Moran on
Entries of Note in the Account Book of Louis Bevier Jr.
View Event →