The Upper and Lower Sections of the Navigation were joined in Reading on May 20, 1825. For the three days before the Bicentennial Day, open houses and eventswill be held at individual historical societies and parks along the Navigation. Below is the press release on all of the events. Several Oliver Evans chapter members are involved in the symposium being held on Sunday May 18th, “At the Confluence of Navigation History: Past, Present, and Future,” at C. Howard Hiester Canal Center at the Berks County Heritage Center. There is no charge Saturday and Monday which will feature driving/walking tours of important sites of the Navigation. Registration for the Sunday conference can be accessed at this link here at the top of the page where it says Download Registration Form Here.

https://waterhistoryphl.org/snc200-confluence-symposium/

Bicentennial Activities in Canal Towns Along the Schuylkill River May 17-20, 2025

This spring marks the Bicentennial of the opening of the Schuylkill Navigation, a pioneering 108-mile Pennsylvania slackwater-canal system. To commemorate this milestone and educate the public about the canal’s rich history and impact on the region, a celebration is planned to include a “Confluence” symposium, tours, and open houses throughout the long weekend.

Many historical sites along the canal route will be featured through Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, highlighting its significance as America’s first and longest anthracite coal-carrying canal system and Pennsylvania’s first slackwater-canal navigation. The system connected through Reading on May 20, 1825, several months before the Erie Canal opened. The celebration aims to engage history enthusiasts, residents of canal towns, and recreational users of the Schuylkill River Trail. Visit waterhistoryphl.org for more information.

Schuylkill Navigation Bicentennial (2025)

The commemoration will involve a range of activities, highlighting various aspects of the canal’s operation, its environmental legacy, and its connection to local communities.

Key Themes and Ideas:

• Historical Significance: The Schuylkill Navigation was a groundbreaking engineering achievement. It was the first and longest anthracite-carrying canal system in America, and the first slackwater-canal navigation in Pennsylvania. This system played a crucial role in transporting anthracite coal from Schuylkill County to Philadelphia and beyond, fueling industrial growth. Many of the 27 Navigation canals also provided critical water supply and power to mills.
• Widespread Impact: The canal’s influence extended throughout the Schuylkill Valley, impacting numerous communities. Historical notes mention that “many towns had Canal Streets, Lock Streets or Coal Streets, and in some cases the canal itself was the main street.” The celebrations are intended to be a valley-wide event, connecting many towns along the navigation.
• Relevance to Present Day: The Navigation’s legacy is still visible today through physical remains like locks, dams and aqueducts, and the Schuylkill River Trail, which often follows the historic towpaths. The river itself had about 50 miles of towpaths, from Port Carbon to Fairmount, in addition to the towpaths of the 27 canals. The Bicentennial aims to connect the past to the present by highlighting the ways the Navigation’s history is still present. This includes beautiful watered sections like the Manayunk Canal in Philadelphia and the Oakes Canal in Montgomery County. In addition, many large desilting basins are becoming public wetland parks, originally constructed in the 1940s-50s for the cleanup of coal waste in the river. Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville is a prime example.

SCHUYLKILL NAVIGATION BICENTENNIAL 2025 EVENTS

May 17-20, 2025: BICENTENNIAL WEEKEND 

• Saturday May 17: Open houses and tours at individual historical societies and parks along the Navigation, including Laurel Locks, Spring-Ford Area Historical Society, and Lock 60 
• Sunday May 18: All-Day History and Environment Symposium “At the Confluence of Navigation History”
  Slide presentations and discussions with Schuylkill historians, authors, and activists, film screenings, archive sharing, and self-guided walking tours. Events held at C. Howard Hiester Canal Center at the Berks County Heritage Center, 1102 Red Bridge Rd., Reading PA 19605. 
• Monday May 19: All-day caravan/walking tour of Hamburg Canal sites in Berks County. A recently re-watered section on private property will be a highlight, with the owner present to explain his method
• Tuesday May 20: Insider’s Tour at PWD’s Flat Rock Betterment canal re-watering project, Lock 68, Manayunk Canal, with Project Manager Ian McKane and a canal historian 
• Past event – Saturday, April 5, 2025: All-Day Canal-Rail Excursion with Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad was a fundraiser for the American Canal Society and future Friends of the Schuylkill Navigation. CLICK HERE for a description.

The following events are planned for June 2025:

Spring 2025: Grand Reopening of the Manayunk Canal at Flat Rock, ribbon cutting in June, insider’s tour with Philadelphia Water Department tentatively scheduled for Tuesday May 20.

June 14-20, 2025: This year’s Schuylkill Sojourn theme is “Canals and Campfires.” Along with special presentations about the Navigation, paddlers may apply bumper stickers funded by the Awesome Foundation’s “On the Water” program.  This “Adopt a Canal Boat” effort features at least 35 real Schuylkill canal boat names and 350 stickers. 

Canal Heritage Markers, Tours, and Open Houses

• Lock 27 ceremony at Port Clinton, Schuylkill Gap, April 5 at noon (PAST, photos available)
• Lock 60 Schuylkill Canal Park, Mont Clare, ten new history signs on view May 17
• Walking Tours: stone locks on private property, Hamburg Canal sections, May 17 and 19
• Open Houses: Open houses will be held at Lock 60 Schuylkill Canal Park (lock opening 12:30), Fricks Locks Village (three tour times), and the Spring-Ford Area Historical Society (kids’ event 2 PM). Many other organizations with canal connections welcome canal fans for their regular Saturday hours, all the way from the Schuylkill County Historical Society at the Head of Navigation to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center at tidewater.

Media Contact: Nancy Becker 215-290-7668, nancy@15minutesinc.

Events Organizer and photo requests:  Sandy Sorlien 215-480-3115   sandysorlien@gmail.com