Visiting the Mohawk Valley is an adventure in time. Some of the earliest settlements in New York State occurred along the Mohawk River. The engineering marvel known as the Erie Canal opened easy travel to the Western frontier. Our Visitor's Center, Gems Along The Mohawk, encapsulates the history of the Mohawk Valley with its location along the Canal and its information on the contiguous counties surrounding the Mohawk Valley.

Of key importance is the strategic location of the project on the Canal, at New York State Thruway Exit 30, on the route of the Canalway Trail and at the beginning of the Southern Adirondack Scenic Byway. This confluence is one of the most unique in the State, and offers many inter-model transportation opportunities. It is a perfect stop if you are traveling eastbound or westbound on the NYS Thruway. It is the only place in the entire State of New York where the water meets the road in such a convenient, attractive manner.

Gems Along the Mohawk represents a most unusual private/public partnership and clearly boosts community wide support. By educating visitors, it encourages them to experience the many recreational, historic natural and commercial resources of Central New York. Further, it reminds local residents as well of the rich history of their counties. By promoting products historically manufactured in Central New York, the project highlights both the rich agricultural and industrial history of the region. We now have 70 associates in the retail area; cumulatively the retail area showcases over 10,000 years of manufacturing and agricultural experiences! Each associate has a remarkable story that unfolds as a customer samples local products whether that is trying on our Herkimer Diamond Jewelry or following the Yellow Brick Road for Wizard of Oz products.

Our restaurant, The Waterfront Grille, is a gem of a local culinary experience. With a waterfront view and open year round with indoor and outdoor dining options, the restaurant has been a tremendous success since our opening in November 2002. The restaurant menu is designed to use seasonal local produce as well as locally manufactured commodities, truly guaranteeing a "Taste of Central New York."

While visiting our facility, a tour of the historic Erie Canal is available from mid-May through mid-October. These daily 1½ hour sightseeing tours are fully narrated and provide a historic overview of the Erie Canal with an opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Mohawk Valley. Tours include traveling through a lock and passing one of the oldest surviving churches in New York State. Erie Canal Cruises also offers opportunities for private charters.