Coming Events

Mark Your Calendars

Saturday, July 12, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Tour “Art and the River” with the Friends...and Socialize, too
Michener Museum in New Hope and the Triumph Brewing Company
Union Square, 38 West Bridge Street, New Hope

Harry Leith-Ross, Canal at Dusk, c. 1940 oil on canvas, 8x16, photo courtesy James A. Michener Art Museum archives

Join the Friends of the Delaware Canal for a special docent-led tour of the new Art and the River exhibit at New Hope’s Michener Museum and stay for a post-tour get-together at the nearby Triumph Brewing Company. Triumph’s chef is preparing his best selection of appetizers for us. Soft beverages will be provided, and, if you’d like, a cash bar awaits. Afterwards, enjoy New Hope’s Second Saturday festivities. 

Families are very welcome. A donation of $25 per adult, and $15 per child (ages 5-12) is requested; event is free for children under five years. Please make your reservations by July 1st by calling 215.862.2021 or e-mailing friends@fodc.org. Parking is plentiful at Union Square.

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Saturday-Sunday, July 12 and 13

Tinicum Art Festival
Tinicum Park, Erwinna

Art, crafts, music, and food in abundance at Tinicum Park in Erwinna. Stop by the Friends’ table to chat and get your 25th Anniversary polo shirt, books, and other canal goodies. 

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Sunday, August 3, 2 p.m.

The Critter Scape Walk
Meet at the lagoon adjacent to the Canal just off Route 532 in the southern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park.

One of the virtues of the Delaware Canal is that one short walk can lead to many very different things.  In the case of the Critter Scape Walk, we'll be exploring both the creations of nature and Upper Makefield Township. 

Sarah Bellois, the Delaware Canal State Park Education Specialist, will explain why the Canal and the lagoon attract creatures; what kinds of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and insects live there, and, with luck, point out some live examples – perhaps, even the shy and threatened red bellied turtle. 

After exploring the natural world, Susan Taylor will lead a short tour of Upper Makefield Township's new Washington Crossing streetscape project.  An attractive, tree-lined pathway extends from Traditions, an adult community, to the Delaware Canal and Washington Crossing Historic Park, and then leads to local businesses and the Park Visitor Center along the River.  The path invites visitors to easily experience all the area's offerings.

This one-mile walk is free and will be held weather permitting.  

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Saturday, August 23, 2 p.m.

The Bridge Tales Walk
Meet at the I-95 Park and Ride lot in Yardley at the intersection of Taylorsville and Woodside Roads.

This walk was scheduled for last May, but the rain was pouring down that afternoon.  So we'll try again and hope for sun, but not too much.  

Quirky stories abound about the Delaware Canal, and the 3-mile stretch that will be hiked during the Bridge Tales Walk claims more than its share.   As we travel from Yardley to Washington Crossing, we'll be walking under bridges that are still known by the unusual names that they were given a century or more ago. These names relate to happenings on the adjoining properties – properties that have colorful histories, both long ago and recent.  Complementing the stories will be the Canal's lovely scenery and late summer wildflowers.

When Washington Crossing is reached, walkers can choose to double their day's exertion by returning to the Yardley Park and Ride on foot or they can ride back via a carpool.   The free walk will be held unless it rains again. Reservations are helpful.  To let us know that you're coming, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org.

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Tuesday, September 9, 7:30 p.m.

General Meeting Promoting the Preservation of the Delaware Canal - 1930's Style
The Feinstone Conference Center of the David Library of the American Revolution, 1201 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA  18977.

Lance Metz, the National Canal Museum Historian, will share two treasures that have made their way to the Museum's archives.  In 1930-31, W. W. Chambers produced two 20-minute, black and white silent films.   The first was made to present the case that the Delaware Canal should be preserved and highlights scenes of the waterway when it was in commercial operation.  The second film has two segments.  One is about the New Hope School artists, William Lathrop and Edward Redfield; the second features the ceremony during which the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company gave the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 40 miles of the Canal, and it was designated a Pennsylvania State Park by Governor Gifford Pinchot.

After the show, Ken Edmonds, a Friends' member and former Board President, will present one of his "finds" to Lance Metz, so that it will be preserved in the Museum archives.  In 2003, Ken purchased a copy of the 1950 Damon & Foster Canal Report  from an acquaintance who found it at a book sale in Newtown.   The Damon & Foster Report detailed "Proposed Improvements to the Delaware Division of the PA Canal from Mile Post 24 to Mile Post 60" – New Hope to Easton and placed a price tag on the work of $3 million.   In its time, the report was used by the Commonwealth to foil those who wanted "water in the ditch" by citing the "prohibitive" cost.

If you want to learn more about the Canal's history, this is the program for you.  To reserve your place, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org.

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Stop by the Friends' booth at  

• New Hope Farmers' Market on Thursday, September 25 from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
• Yardley Harvest Day – Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

We'll have shirts, books, mules of many types, and other canal goodies.  Excellent information, too.

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Canal Walk 2008

October 4, 11, 18, and 25

No matter what, the tradition continues.  The flood repair projects may necessitate that we be creative about what sections of the Canal are walked this year, but we'll do as many of the 60 miles as we can.   Be prepared for discoveries and new adventures.  The fall issue of Canal News will contain a full itinerary, and a schedule will be posted on www.fodc.org.