It was a great day in Buffalo when the Erie Canal opened for business on October 26, 1825 and all of the people of New York State joined in the celebrations. Governor DeWitt Clinton boarded the barge, Superior, and sailed for eight days along the canal, then down the Hudson River. Along the way, an 80-boat floatilla joined the festivities, which concluded at New York Harbor.
        The story of Governor Clinton's ceremonious pouring Lake Erie waters into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean is well known, but from that first trip, daily life in New York State was changed forever. As always, the spirit of the time and place was captured in music, personal correspondence, and even in children's journals. The achievements of the Canal were impressive, and many towns along its course retain unique and charming stories.