Lock 13 Living History Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Lock 13 Living History Park is located in the state of New York and is a must-visit destination for history buffs.
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Summary
The park is a living museum that showcases the history of the Erie Canal and the lives of those who lived and worked on it. Visitors can take a tour of the park's many exhibits and learn about the canal's construction, operation, and eventual decline.
Some of the main points of interest at Lock 13 Living History Park include the historic lock structures, the preserved homes of canal workers, and the many artifacts and exhibits that showcase daily life on the canal. Visitors can also take a boat ride along the canal, which offers a unique perspective on the park's history.
Interesting facts about the area include that the Erie Canal was once a vital transportation route that connected the eastern seaboard to the Great Lakes and helped spur the growth of many cities and towns along its route. The canal was also an engineering marvel of its time, and its construction required the labor of thousands of workers.
The best time of year to visit Lock 13 Living History Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the park is open for tours. Visitors can also attend various events and festivals that take place throughout the year, including historical reenactments, live music performances, and art shows.
Overall, Lock 13 Living History Park is an excellent destination for anyone interested in the history of the Erie Canal and the people who lived and worked on it. With its many exhibits, tours, and events, the park offers a unique and engaging way to learn about this important chapter in American history.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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