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1850s looking Wabash & Erie Canal Conference and Interpretive Center in Delphi, IN -- is opening soon!

When the original Canal Association members first conceived their plans for restoring the old Wabash & Erie Canal through Delphi in 1971 they had no money, little community support and no idea when this undertaking could produce results. However they had a 'vision' and that strong attribute has prevailed through the years. This group of mostly retired residents represented a generation that had come through the depression, raised their children in this mostly rural community and found satisfaction in dreaming of the impossible.

The next generation of Canal Association leaders have adopted the "vision" from the 1970s and produced a most unique facility -- the WABASH & ERIE CANAL CONFERENCE AND INTERPRETIVE CENTER. Scores of volunteers have come together (many almost daily) to create and build Canal Park and the construction of exciting exhibits comprising this new center. This non-profit organization is solely a volunteer effort and has operated for its 29 years without any paid staff.

Planning for a facility big enough to have meetings, meals, programs and plays began a decade ago. The Long Range Planning Committee sketched the plans, looked for grants and donations and now has nearly completed the 12,000 square foot, two million dollar facility. The Department of Transportation was the primary source of the building costs. In addition, the museum galleries including over 60 exhibits with even more graphic panels, will shortly become the Canal Interpretive Center for all to enjoy. Its cost could have been a half million dollars if not for the thousands of volunteer hours devoted to its completion and a grant from DNR's Wabash Heritage Corridor Fund.

Opening of this center begins in July, 2003, and will show off 'state of the art' exhibits like the real water model of a canal which includes an operational reservoir, aqueduct, lock and grist mill. This Center will become a regional attraction with exhibits to entice children as well as adults. Completion of exhibits will likely command time of the volunteers through the end of 2003.

Initially the Center will be open to the public on weekends (Saturday 10-4 pm, Sunday 1-4) until the display area is finished and there will be no admittance charge until all displays are finished. Donations are welcome and will be needed to see the full completion of these galleries. The other half of this beautiful facility will house three Conference rooms that may be rented for catered receptions and meetings, reunions and a variety of community functions. Income from these uses are expected to cover the Center's operating expenses although an endowment fund has been started to cover future maintenance and replacement expenses.

The setting in Carroll County places Canal Park and this new Center at about the midway point of the full length of this historic 'manmade' waterway across Indiana and Ohio. Construction began in 1832 and it was completed from Toledo to Evansville in 1853. At 468 miles, the Wabash & Erie Canal was this nation's longest canal. Significant structural remnants of the canal are identified along Delphi Historic Trails. Three National Register Sites are: the Irish workers construction camp site; Lock #33 and lockkeepers house site; and the Harley & Hubbard Lime Kilns. The restored 1873 Paint Creek Iron Bridge now spanning the canal is on the State Register. All sites and many scenic vistas are along the 7 mile trail system and accessible by hiking from the new Center. Trails too are a product of volunteer efforts for the past 14 years.

The Canal Association hosts CANAL DAYS FESTIVAL on July 4th and 5th in Canal Park, 1030 North Washington Street in Delphi. Grand opening of the Center adorned with replicated downtown facades from the 1850s will begin with a ribbon cutting at noon on the 4th. This opening will usher in a new era of historic education for participants of all ages -- everyone is invited.
Efforts to reconstruct the canal have been successful over the past decade. Almost 8 miles of the Delphi Historic Trails have been completed. Nearly a mile of the old channel has been deepened with a huge dragline. Hopes are for another quarter mile section to be completed later this year if adequate donations are received.

Three million gallons of clear water flows into the north end of the canal daily from the local Delphi Limestone Company. This fresh water replaced the stagnant water in 1996 when the Stone Company completed a long diversion pipe from their pumps in the quarry bottom. Formerly ground water was just diverted to the Wabash River nearer the quarry.

As a child, I remember the bad image the canal had on local residents. Many of my friends said "I'll get a 'lickin if dad finds me down here at the canal. Mom says that there are rats and snakes AND the water is dangerous." Really that was the message passed down generation to generation as the canal left an image of failure and despair in the community--we were stuck with that 'dirty old ditch'. The state went broke over the expenditures for canal construction never to see a fair return on its investment. So the mothers of Delphi were just repeating the doom and gloom they were told.

Today we have a rebirth of a resource. With fresh water in the canal and trails bordering the 3 miles of canal jointly owned by the Canal Association and the City of Delphi the doom and gloom has changed to show a bright economic and environmental future. Join with us as we celebrate CANAL DAYS FESTIVAL in Canal Park on July 4th and 5th.

Wabash & Erie Canal Conference and Interpretive Center in Delphi opens!

When the original Canal Association members first conceived their plans for restoring the old Wabash & Erie Canal through Delphi in 1971, they had no money, little community support, and no idea when this undertaking could produce results. They did, however, have a vision and that strong attribute has prevailed through the years. This group of mostly retired residents represented a generation that had come through the depression, raised their children in this mostly rural community, and found satisfaction in dreaming of the impossible. 

The next generation of Canal Association leaders have adopted the vision from the 1970s and produced a most unique facility -- the WABASH & ERIE CANAL CONFERENCE AND INTERPRETIVE CENTER. Scores of volunteers have come together (many almost daily) to create and build Canal Park and the exciting exhibits comprising the center. This non-profit organization is solely a volunteer effort and has operated for 29 years without any paid staff. 

Planning for a facility big enough to have meetings, meals, programs, and plays began a decade ago. The Long Range Planning Committee sketched the plans, looked for grants and donations and now has nearly completed the 12,000 square foot, two million dollar facility. The Department of Transportation was the primary source of the building costs. In addition, the museum galleries, including over 60 exhibits with even more graphic panels, will shortly become the Canal Interpretive Center for all to enjoy. Its cost could have been a half million dollars if not for the thousands of volunteer hours devoted to its completion and a grant from DNR's Wabash Heritage Corridor Fund. 

The opening of this center began in July 2003, and will show off state of the art exhibits like the real water model of a canal, that includes an operational reservoir, aqueduct, lock and gristmill. This center will become a regional attraction with exhibits to entice children as well as adults. Completion of exhibits will likely command time of the volunteers through the end of 2003. 

Initially the center will be open to the public on weekends (Saturday 10-4 pm, Sunday 1-4) until the display area is finished and there will be no admittance charge until that time. Donations are welcome and will be needed to see the full completion of these galleries. The other half of this beautiful facility will house three conference rooms that may be rented for catered receptions and meetings, reunions, and a variety of community functions. Income from these uses is expected to cover the Center's operating expenses, although an endowment fund has been started to cover future maintenance and replacement expenses. 

The setting in Carroll County places Canal Park and this new center at about the midway point of the full length of this historic manmade waterway across Indiana and Ohio. Construction began in 1832 and was completed from Toledo to Evansville in 1853. At 468 miles, the Wabash & Erie Canal was this nation's longest canal. Significant structural remnants of the canal are identified along Delphi Historic Trails. Three National Register Sites are: the Irish workers construction campsite; Lock #33 and lockkeeper’s house site; and the Harley & Hubbard Lime Kilns. The restored 1873 Paint Creek Iron Bridge now spanning the canal is on the State Register. All sites and many scenic vistas are along the 7-mile trail system and are accessible by hiking from the new center. Trails, too, are a product of volunteer efforts for the past 14 years. 

The Canal Association hosted the CANAL DAYS FESTIVAL on July 4th and 5th in Canal Park, 1030 North Washington Street in Delphi. The grand opening of the Center, adorned with replicated downtown facades from the 1850s, began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on the 4th. 

This opening ushers in a new era of historic education for participants of all ages.