MACHIAS — The Cattaraugus County Museum’s “Summer at the Stone House” event series continues its 2025 schedule Thursday with a presentation on the history of the Erie Canal by a representative of the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse.

Steph Adams

Titled “Bicentennial Basics of the Erie Canal,” the talk will be given by Steph Adams, the director of interpretation at the Erie Canal Museum.

Why was the Erie Canal built? How was it built? How was it used once it was built? Where is it now? All these questions and more will be answered in this crash course on “Clinton’s Ditch.”

Originally from Sherrill, Adams received a B.A. in art history from SUNY Geneseo and dual M.A. degrees in art history and museum studies from Syracuse University. Adams curated What Else is True? at the Erie Canal Museum as well as At Water’s Edge: Reflections on 200 Years of the Erie Canal (Jan. 18 – April 27, 2025) at the Everson Museum of Art.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. and take place under a tent on the museum lawn, rain or shine. Some seating will be available; however, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs if they prefer. This event is free and open to the public.

For those unable to attend in person, this event will be livestreamed on the museum’s YouTube channel. A link to the livestream will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page closer to the event date.

The Cattaraugus County Museum is located in the Stone House, 9824 Route 16, in Machias. For more information, visit www.cattco.org/museum or call (716) 353-8200.