The Lake Champlain freighter Lois McClure is headed to the Canadian capital of Ottawa before reaching Lake Ontario and touring New York’s Erie Canal as part of a summer-long tour designed to help commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.
The McClure is an exact replica of the vessels that used to ply the waters of Lake Champlain and the canals of New York and Canada in the 19th Century carrying cargo as varied as lumber and household goods.
Museum Founder Art Cohn says the McClure’s itinerary this summer is its most ambitious since its 2004 launching. The vessels and its crew will help visitors learn about the War of 1812.
The McClure is due to reach Canada on June 21 and return to Vermont in October.