Join us to explore genealogy with expert Pamela Vittorio. for this virtual workshop. Registration is required. Erie Canal Museum Members can contact outreach@eriecanalmuseum.org for a discount code.
(UPDATE 10/15/25: This workshop is now virtual, rather than being held at the Erie Canal Museum. Participants will receive an email from the Erie Canal Museum via no-reply@zoom.us with a personal link to this secure event at least one hour prior to the workshop beginning.)
Saturday, October 18 @ 1:00 PM - Across the Empire State: Migrations to and from Canal Towns. 1820 to 1920
This workshop focuses on immigration from 1820 to 1900. We will take a close look at various types of records that could help you determine your ancestors' homelands, such as England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Norway & Sweden, and Switzerland. What can you do to trace your family if there is no passenger manifest? Sometimes lesser-used sources might shed light on a person's origins, or give you clues to determine a family's original city, region, county, or province.
Saturday, March 15 @ 1:00 PM - A Trip Back in Time: Ancestors on the Move (1830s to 1900s)
In this part of the workshop, we explore U.S. migration paths and records along major transportation routes: waterways, railways, and roadways. You found your ancestors on the census, now, determine how they arrived at that location from their port of entry. From ships, canal boats, trains, or wagons to early motor cars... take a trip back in time and follow your ancestors' pathways.
The Erie Canal Museum, located in Downtown Syracuse, NY, engages the public in the story of the Erie Canal’s transformative impacts on peoples and places in the past, present, and future. We are stewards and interpreters of Erie Canal related materials and heritage. The Museum is housed in the 1850 National Register Weighlock Building, the last remaining structure of its kind. Visit us for exhibits with interactive displays and original artifacts, and engaging programs. The Erie Canal Museum is a must-see for adults and children of all ages.
Find more Erie Canal Museum Events
