Media Availability: Historical Tugboat Urger to Host Educational Program for Fourth Grade Students at Lock E-7 in Niskayuna

For Immediate Release: 05/26/2015

Wednesday, May 27
10:00 a.m.

Lock E-7
1390 Lock 7 Road
Niskayuna, NY 12309

Crew of the Tug URGER
Fourth grade students from Hamilton Elementary School in Schenectady

For the past 24 years, the 114-year old Tug URGER has served as a focal point of a program to educate fourth graders across the state about the importance of New York's historic Canal system and the role that the canal has played in the economic and social development of New York State.

Originally put into service as a fishing boat in 1901, she earned the name 'URGER' for her 64 years of urging scows and barges along the Canal from 1922 through 1986. In 1991, the URGER began a new chapter in her storied life as a floating museum and classroom.

More than 100,000 school children have gone aboard the URGER and have disembarked with a renewed sense of the Erie Canal's incredible legacy.

The Erie Canal Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program invites artists to explore the past, present, and future of this iconic waterway through their unique artistic lenses. A partnership between the New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canal Museum, the AIR program is a celebration of creativity, history, and stewardship.

The program supports the revitalization of the Erie Canal by blending art with storytelling to illuminate its cultural, environmental, and historical significance. Through exhibitions, events, and public programs, the AIR program brings new perspectives to the Canal's lasting impact on New York State and the nation.

We are thrilled to welcome the 2025 Artists-in-Residence, Kari Varner and Sarah Cameron Sunde, who will begin their year-long exploration of the Erie Canal. Stay tuned for updates on their journey!

Contact

Shane Mahar
shane.mahar@thruway.ny.gov
Office of Media Relations and Communications
(518) 471-5300