Syracuse’s connection to the Erie Canal runs deeper than its waters—it’s soaked into the very salt that built a city. While many New York communities flourished with the arrival of the canal, none had quite the same relationship as Syracuse, where the salt industry and the canal were inextricably linked.
Brine, Boats & Bureaucrats: Syracuse Salt & New York’s 19th Century Canals, now on display at the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) Downtown, explores how Syracuse’s salt industry didn’t just benefit from the canal—it helped fund and fuel its creation. The state-imposed salt duty helped pay for construction, while the completed canal vastly expanded the reach of Onondaga Lake’s prized resource. The result: explosive growth, wealth, and a new nickname—The Salt City.
This exhibit unpacks the 90-year relationship between the state-owned Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation and the Erie Canal, revealing how both shaped each other. Visitors can explore rare 19th- and early 20th-century documents, portraits of key local figures like James Geddes and Joshua Forman, and a detailed model of a canal freighter.
This exhibit is free with the price of regular museum admission.