Ithaca, N.Y. (June 8, 2007)—Ithaca is the first port of

call, July 2-3, for the historic canal schooner Lois

McClure on its three-month voyage through New York’s Erie

Canal system. The McClure’s Grand Canal Journey will cover

1,000 miles in 100 days, and include stops at 25 ports.


The schooner’s journey is a partnership of the National

Park Service Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the

New York State Canal Corporation and the Lake Champlain

Maritime Museum. The museum owns and operates the Lois

McClure as nonprofit educational resource.


To celebrate the McClure’s visit to Ithaca and promote the

Cayuga Waterfront Trail, waterfront merchants and

community organizations are hosting a two-day schooner

festival on Inlet Island, July 2-3. The event offers

public tours of the McClure, interpretive presentations of

Ithaca’s Erie Canal history, music and informational

displays by community organizations. All activities are

free and open to the public, with donations accepted to

benefit the Waterfront Trail. Hours are 11:00 a.m.– 6:00

p.m. July 2, and 10:00–6:00 July 3. Food and beverages are

available from waterfront merchants.


Ithaca is the only city on the voyage to see the Lois

McClure under sail. The ship’s masts will be lowered

following its passage of Cayuga Lake to accommodate low

bridges throughout the remainder of the canal voyage.


Area boaters can join the schooner as it sails south down

Cayuga Lake on the afternoon of July 1, and again the

morning of July 4 as the vessel departs on its northbound

journey. Spectator vessels are reminded to practice safe

boating during the busy holiday period and allow the

McClure ample room while navigating area waters.


The schooner Lois McClure is a full-scale replica of an

1862-class sailing canal boat. Constructed in Burlington,

Vt. and launched July 3, 2004, Lois McClure is 88 feet in

length and 14 feet in beam. Its two masts carry 1,300

square-feet of sail. The original sailing-canal boats were

designed to sail from distant lake cities to canal ports

using wind power. Upon reaching a canal, the masts were

lowered and centerboard raised, transforming the vessel

into a typical canal boat.


For additional information on the McClure’s Ithaca visit,

call the Ithaca/Tompkins Convention & Visitors Bureau at

(607) 272-1313, or go online to VisitIthaca.com. For

details on the vessel itself and the summer-long Grand

Canal Journey, visit www.GrandCanalJourney.org.