“The Erie Canal not only made New York the Empire State, but also helped transform the shape of our young nation. The seals contained in Marvin Bubie’s latest book demonstrate the important role the Erie Canal played in the birth of many of the communities along this iconic waterway. Through his book, historians, scholars, casual history buffs and future generations are greeted with a visual history of the Erie Canal, providing a concise, illustrated catalog of how the Erie Canal molded each community into what it is today.”

–Carmella R. Mantello, Director, New York State Canal Corporation (2010) 

“Two centuries ago the towns, villages and hamlets along what would become “Clinton’s Ditch” were poised for an explosion of growth the likes of which mankind – and certainly a young America – had never seen.  Among even the most audacious human achievements, and feats of stupendous engineering, the awe-inspiring Erie Canal has no parallel.  Its impacts, which still today resonate across two hundred years of time and development, were more than its advocates could have even dreamed.  Today, we are still connected by the waterway which made New York City the financial capital of the world, made New York the Empire State, and provided the ink which drew the map of the United States as we know it.  It’s wonderful how Marvin Bubie allows us to explore, through their municipal seals, these distinctive communities with identities and cultures as rich and diverse as the iconic achievement that is their common bond – the Erie Canal.”

–Brian Stratton, Director New York State Canal Corporation (2017)