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Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail Documents the History of the River

The Roanoke Canal Museum

The Roanoke Canal Museum documents the history of the river.

Where can you go to see 200-year-old stonework‚ numerous bird species and wildlife‚ the handiwork of high school art students and the inside of a hydro-power flume?

Visitors can experience all this and more at the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail in Roanoke Rapids.

The Roanoke Canal Museum follows the story of the Roanoke River‚ from the building of the canal to its use for electric power generation.

A painted “river” flows along the museum floor‚ guiding patrons through exhibits focusing on the history of the canal – an engineering and economic-development wonder of its day – and highlighting area wildlife and physical aspects of the river itself.

Colorful‚ stylized paintings by Roanoke Rapids High School art students decorate the walls of the children’s area.

Museum Manager Harold Jacobson says there’s more to come.

“The museum has an ambitious capital-improvement schedule this year‚” he says‚ “including the doubling of exhibit space and displays‚ installing interpretive signs on the trail and building a new overlook at the power canal bulkhead.”

The new exhibits will illustrate the daily life of batteaumen and river folks‚ and document the development of hydroelectric power at the site the museum now occupies.

Museum staff expects to welcome 10‚000 guests to the expanded facility in 2007.

The canal trail (open seven days a week‚ sunrise to sunset) will see many more. Each year‚ about 25‚000 to 30‚000 people walk‚ jog‚ bicycle‚ picnic and watch birds along the 7.2-mile trail between Roanoke Rapids Lake Park and River Falls Park. Much of the trail is handicap-accessible – thanks to Dominion North Carolina Power – including the area overlooking the aqueduct.

Jacobson calls the aqueduct an “architectural marvel” reminiscent of Greek and Roman archeological treas­ures. The free Canal Festival‚ held in mid-September‚ will feature period artisan demonstrations‚ including stone masonry‚ batteau-building and net-weaving.

For more information‚ please visit www.roanokecanal.com.

Story by Carol Cowan
Photo by Brian McCord

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