>> NARRATOR: THE STORY OF THE ERIE CANAL IS FILLED WITH SUPERLATIVES - AMERICA'S GREATEST CIVIL ENGINEERING FEAT, THE DITCH THAT BUILT AMERICA, AND THE WORLD'S LONGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL CANAL.

IN 1825, THE ERIE OPENED AMERICA'S MIDWEST TO SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW YORK AS THE EMPIRE STATE, FIRST IN POPULATION, WEALTH, AND RESOURCES.

CARGO AND PASSENGERS CROWDED CANAL BOAT DECKS.

LESS OBVIOUS BUT NO LESS ESSENTIAL WAS THE ERIE CANAL'S ROLE AS THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY OF ITS DAY.

IT TRANSPORTED IDEAS OF SOCIAL CHANGE ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE NATION, AND EVEN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

THE CANAL'S CONTRIBUTIONS, INCLUDING HELPING SHAPE AMERICA'S VISION AS A NATION WHERE ALL MEN - AND WOMEN - ARE CREATED EQUAL WITH EQUAL RIGHTS, ARE WHY THE CANAL TODAY IS A NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR, A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, AND A LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE.

>> THE ERIE CANAL WAS A GREAT EARLY SOCIAL SPACE IN THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE INTERNET IS TODAY.

IT CREATED NOT JUST A SOCIAL NETWORK BUT AN ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE CANAL, PEOPLE SHARED IDEAS AND PRACTICES, IT WAS A GATHERING SPACE.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER AND IDEAS TRAVELLED, TRAVELLED UP AND DOWN THE CANAL.

IDEAS ARE NEVER DISEMBODIED THINGS, THEY'RE ALWAYS CONNECTED TO EITHER PEOPLE AND WORD OF MOUTH OR TO MEDIA.

PRINTING PRESSES WERE BEING SHIPPED UP AND DOWN THE CANAL.

EVERY LITTLE HAMLET, AS ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE TALKS ABOUT, EVERY LITTLE HAMLET IN THE UNITED STATES HAS ITS OWN NEWSPAPER.

AND THIS WAS TRUE OF COURSE ALONG THE CANAL.

SO DIFFERENT IDEAS WERE SPREAD THROUGH THESE MEDIA.

NEWSPAPERS WERE BEING LEFT ON CANAL BOATS AND THE ALBANY PAPER WOULD GO UP IN ONE DIRECTION AND SOMEONE IN BUFFALO WOULD PICK IT UP AND READ IT.

>> NARRATOR: SOME OF THOSE IDEAS REVOLVED AROUND SOCIAL REFORMS, IDEAS SHARED IN CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE CANAL'S FLOATING COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE AND AMERICANS SEEKING NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

ABOLITIONISM, TEMPERANCE, NEW FORMS OF RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION, UTOPIAN COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN'S RIGHTS ALL FOUND FERTILE GROUND IN THE CANAL CORRIDOR.

>> THE CANAL ROCKED THE FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL LIFE, NOT JUST IN UPSTATE.

YOU HAD AN INFLUX OF STRANGERS.

BUT YOU REACHED OUT FOR NEW PILLARS TO GRAB ONTO.

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO RELIGION, OR OTHER REFORM MOVEMENTS OR OTHER TYPE OF COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES, TO KIND OF RE-ESTABLISH THAT CONNECTION IN SOCIETY.

>> NARRATOR: THE MOVEMENTS OFTEN INTERSECTED AND SO TOO DID SOME OF THE REFORMISTS.

THE TWO NAMES MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE SUSAN B. ANTHONY AND ELIZABETH CADY STANTON - ALSO WORKED IN ANTI-SLAVERY AND TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS.

>> THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT REALLY TOOK OFF IN UPSTATE NY AS PART OF A WHOLE SERIES OF REFORM MOVEMENTS AND RELIGIOUS REVIVALS, IT WAS SO DRAMATIC IN UPSTATE NY THAT PEOPLE CALLED IT THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT OR THE BURNT DISTRICT.

AND IT REALLY HAPPENED IN AN EXPLOSIVE WAY AFTER THE ERIE CANAL CAME THROUGH WITH RELIGIOUS REVIVALS AND CONVERSIONS TO CHURCHES.

>> I THINK THE ERIE CANAL IS THE GREATEST HUMAN ARTIFACT TO CREATE NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS RAPIDLY IN THE WHOLE OF HISTORY.

YOU HAVE THE RISE OF THE MORMONS.

JOSEPH SMITH PRINTS THE BOOK OF MORMON AND BEGINS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS IN THAT TIME, THE RISE OF SPIRITUALISM - THE FOX SISTERS OVER IN ROCHESTER - SORT OF BUFFETED BY A NUMBER OF THEOLOGICAL IDEAS, YOU'VE GOT THE ADVENTISTS GROWING UP OUT OF THE ALBANY TRADITION, SO TODAY SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISM IS ONE OF THE MOST RAPIDLY, CONTINUALLY GROWING TRADITIONS WITHIN CHRISTIANITY OR RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS ANYWHERE.

>> ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANAL AND THE RAILROADS ALSO, WAS THE REAL INTEREST IN UTOPIAN COMMUNITIES, SEPARATE COMMUNITIES.

AND PART OF THEIR THOUGHT WAS WE WANT RADICAL CHANGE, WE WANT IT NOW, AND WE WANT IT NON-VIOLENTLY.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO SET UP OUR OWN LITTLE COMMUNITY WITH THE KINDS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RULES WE CHOOSE.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS WAS ANN LEE'S SHAKER COMMUNITIES WHICH SPREAD OUT THROUGH THE COUNTRY, NORTHEAST INTO KENTUCKY.

THE ONEIDA COMMUNITY WAS SETTLED NEAR UTICA BY JOHN HUMPHREY NOYES.

ALL OF THEM IN SOME WAY MADE A DIFFERENT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN AS A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THEIR NEW IDEAS.

>> NARRATOR: THE ABOLITION MOVEMENT WAS AN EARLY TRAINING GROUND FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS LEADERS.

STANTON MET QUAKER MINISTER AND ABOLITIONIST LUCRETIA MOTT IN LONDON AT THE 1840 WORLD ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION.

THAT'S WHERE MALE DELEGATES DECIDED TO EXCLUDE THE PARTICIPATION OF FEMALE DELEGATES.

MOTT AND STANTON VOWED TO ORGANIZE A WOMEN'S CONVENTION IN THE UNITED STATES - WHICH THEY DID IN 1848 IN SENECA FALLS, WHERE ELIZABETH CADY STANTON AND HER FAMILY LIVED.

>> PEOPLE ASK WHY SENECA FALLS?

AND OUR PERCEPTION FROM THE PRESENT IS THAT IT WAS A SMALL SORT OF BACKWATER VILLAGE.

IT WASN'T.

IT WAS RIGHT ON THE CANAL AND IT WAS A MAJOR CENTER, EVERYBODY WENT THROUGH THERE TO GIVE SPEECHES.

THEY HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO NEW YORK CITY.

THEY'RE ADVERTISING IN THE PAPER REVOLUTION, NEW GOODS DIRECTLY CONSUMER REVOLUTION.

SO, IT WAS RIGHT AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THESE IDEAS.

>> NARRATOR: THE 1848 CONVENTION WAS HELD IN THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL.

IT FEATURED TWO DAYS OF DISCUSSION AROUND THE DECLARATION OF SENTIMENTS, A DOCUMENT PRIMARILY DRAFTED BY STANTON OUTLINING WOMEN'S GRIEVANCES AND PROPOSING RESOLUTIONS.

MODELLED AFTER THE 1776 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, STANTON EDITED THE DOCUMENT'S FAMOUS LINE TO READ: "WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT; THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL •" THE DECLARATION OF SENTIMENTS STATED THAT SINCE WOMEN WERE NOT CONSIDERED CITIZENS, THEY HAD FEW IF ANY RIGHTS.

WOMEN COULD NOT VOTE AND THEREFORE HAD NO VOICE IN THE LAWS THEY WERE SUBJECT TO.

THE DOORS TO EDUCATION AND TO MOST JOBS WERE CLOSED TO THEM.

A MARRIED WOMAN WAS CONSIDERED "CIVILLY DEAD" WITH NO RIGHT TO PROPERTY OR ANY WAGES SHE MIGHT EARN AS EVERYTHING SHE HAD WAS OWNED BY HER HUSBAND.

SHE COULD NOT SIGN CONTRACTS.

DIVORCE WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

SINCE CHILDREN WERE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR FATHER, HE COULD GIVE THEM AWAY IF HE CHOSE AS SHE HAD NO CUSTODY RIGHTS.

THE STORIES OF THE CONVENTION AND THE AMERICAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT IT LAUNCHED ARE INTERPRETED AND SHARED AT THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN SENECA FALLS.

>> IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FIRST WAVE OF FEMINISM, THE FIRST WAVE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS, A LOT OF THOSE STORIES WERE FOCUSED ON MIDDLE-CLASS WHITE WOMEN'S STORIES.

IT'S NOT THAT OTHER WOMEN DIDN'T HAVE THINGS GOING ON AT THAT SAME TIME, THAT THEY WEREN'T MAKING STRIDES FOR WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE OR FOR OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS, IT'S MORE SO THEIR STORIES JUST WEREN'T TOLD.

SO, IN THE CONTEXT OF US COMMEMORATING THE 19TH AMENDMENT THIS LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY LOOK BACK AND SEE HOW THOSE STORIES WEREN'T OFTEN TOLD AND BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THEM.

SO, RACISM WAS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN WHY THOSE STORIES WERE NOT TOLD.

IN FACT, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LUCRETIA MOTT AND ELIZABETH CADY STANTON REALLY WAS BASED IN ABOLITION, HOWEVER THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND THEIR VIEWS POST-CIVIL WAR WERE DIFFERENT AND ACTUALLY, LUCRETIA MOTT TRIED TO DISTANCE HERSELF FROM ELIZABETH CADY STANTON'S RACIST RHETORIC AS SHE CONTINUED WITH THE WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TELLING THAT STORY, THAT WE'RE TELLING THE FULL STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HISTORY YOU HAVE TO DISCUSS ALL ANGLES, IT IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE THERE ARE SHADES OF GRAY.

AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FACE THOSE DIFFERENT STORIES WHETHER THEY MAKE US UNCOMFORTABLE OR NOT.

>> NARRATOR: A LESSER-KNOWN PART OF THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS STORY IS THE INSPIRATION SUFFRAGISTS LIKE STANTON AND MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE EXPERIENCED THROUGH INTERACTIONS WITH HAUDENOSAUNEE WOMEN.

THEY LIVED WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM.

THEY CONTROLLED THE LAND AND THE FOOD SUPPLY AND THEREFORE, MUCH OF THE ECONOMY.

CLAN MOTHERS SELECTED THE CHIEFS, WHO THEY ALSO HAD THE POWER TO REMOVE.

EVERYONE, INCLUDING WOMEN, HAD AN EQUAL VOICE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.

>> THE EARLY SUFFRAGISTS, THEY VERY MUCH WERE INFLUENCED BY HAUDENOSAUNEE WOMEN, AND IT'S DOCUMENTED THAT THEY WANTED TO LIVE LIKE HAUDENOSAUNEE WOMEN, THEY WANTED TO FEEL THE SAME SENSE OF THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE FREE IN THE WORLD.

AS A HAUDENOSAUNEE WOMAN, AS AN ONEIDA WOMAN, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WITHIN THIS COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT THE HAUDENOSAUNEE CONFEDERACY GAVE THE UNITED STATES ITS FORM OF GOVERNANCE AND ALSO GAVE THE MODEL FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

>> NARRATOR: THAT INFLUENCE IS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE RIPPLES OF CHANGE STATUE BEING CREATED FOR SENECA FALLS.

NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING A COMMITTEE OF HAUDENOSAUNEE LEADERS, COLLABORATED ON THE PROJECT.

THE STATUE FEATURES SOJOURNER TRUTH, THE FIRST KNOWN BLACK WOMAN SUFFRAGIST; ABOLITIONISTS, SUFFRAGISTS AND FRIENDS HARRIET TUBMAN AND MARTHA COFFIN WRIGHT; AND LAURA CORNELIUS KELLOGG.

>> WE ENDED UP SELECTING LAURA CORNELIUS KELLOGG AND WHILE SHE WAS AN ONEIDA, SHE WAS A REALLY GREAT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TIME OF GRANTING WOMAN'S RIGHT THE VOTE.

SHE WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE HAUDENOSAUNEE CONFEDERACY AND ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

>> NARRATOR: IN THE YEARS BETWEEN THE 1848 CONVENTION AND THE CIVIL WAR, ALTHOUGH SOME WOMEN'S RIGHTS WORK CONTINUED, MANY WOMEN WERE ENGAGED IN ANTI-SLAVERY EFFORTS.

WHEN SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED BY THE 13TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, WOMEN CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR ALL MEN AND ALL WOMEN.

THE 14TH AMENDMENT DECLARED THAT ALL MALE CITIZENS OVER 21 YEARS OLD COULD VOTE.

WOMEN WERE NOT MENTIONED.

THE PROPOSED AND EVENTUALLY PASSED 15TH AMENDMENT PROTECTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, OR PREVIOUS CONDITION OF SERVITUDE - BUT NOT SEX.

THIS SITUATION DIVIDED THE WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.

TWO NATIONAL WOMEN'S RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS FORMED IN 1869 - ONE FOR, THE OTHER AGAINST THE 15TH AMENDMENT'S RATIFICATION.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1890 THAT THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS MERGED INTO ONE - THE NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION.

IN 1896, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED WOMEN WAS FOUNDED, BRINGING TOGETHER MANY BLACK WOMEN'S CLUBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN'S AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON SUFFRAGE, MARCHED INTO THE 20TH CENTURY.

BUT NOT ALL WOMEN - AND MEN - WERE SUPPORTIVE.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OPPOSED TO WOMAN SUFFRAGE STATED THAT IT WOULD DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF VOTERS AND ELECTION COSTS WITHOUT ANY CORRESPONDING GAIN; WOMEN HAD MANY PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS WHICH DID NOT EXIST FOR MEN AND THEIR STRENGTH WAS ALREADY OVERTAXED; AND WOMEN WERE UNFIT FOR THE STERN WORK OF ENFORCING LAW.

BUT NEW LEADERS WITH NEW STRATEGIES DEVELOPED, BUILDING ON THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO HAD COME BEFORE THEM.

THE ERIE CANAL STILL PROVIDED A WAY TO DISSEMINATE SUFFRAGE MESSAGING INCLUDING CANAL BOAT CAMPAIGNS ORGANIZED BY SUFFRAGIST HARRIOT STANTON BLATCH, THE DAUGHTER OF ELIZABETH CADY STANTON.

>> SO, AROUND 1908 IS WHEN SHE STARTS HER FIRST CANAL CAMPAIGN.

AND SHE GETS THESE OTHER WOMEN OF PRIVILEGE TO SIGN UP.

AND WHY NOT?

THEY HAVE MONEY, THEY HAVE BACKING, THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING BIG, THEY NEED THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT, AND THEY NEED THAT FINANCIAL BACKING.

SO, SHE GETS SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT WOMEN FROM NEW YORK STATE, WHO ARE SOCIALITES FROM VERY WELL-TO-DO FAMILIES, AND THEY LITERALLY GET ON THE BOAT.

AND THEY GO ACROSS NEW YORK STATE FOR THIS SUMMER EXCURSION, GIVING SPEECHES, WAVING BANNERS, THE WHOLE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT GO WITH IT, IN ORDER TO REACH AUDIENCES.

>> NARRATOR: THE WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT BECAME MORE MILITANT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN LIKE CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT AND ALICE PAUL.

GROWING NUMBERS OF WORKING WOMEN BEGAN TO VIEW VOTING AS A WAY TO GAIN POLITICAL POWER TO COMBAT POOR PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

WOMEN STAGED PARADES, MARCHES, AND PICKETS, INCLUDING AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE MOVEMENT FOR WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE BECAME AN UNSTOPPABLE TIDAL WAVE.

IN 1919, THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS AND RATIFIED IN AUGUST, 1920.

THE AMENDMENT DECLARED THAT THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES TO VOTE SHALL NOT BE DENIED OR ABRIDGED BY THE UNITED STATES OR BY ANY STATE ON ACCOUNT OF SEX.

FOR BLACK, ASIAN, INDIGENOUS, AND LATINA WOMEN, WHOSE SUFFRAGE EFFORTS ARE LARGELY UNACKNOWLEDGED, VOTING RIGHTS DID NOT COME EASILY OR IMMEDIATELY.

IT WASN'T UNTIL 1924 THAT NATIVE AMERICANS WERE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO BECOME UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND VOTE IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

MOST ASIAN AMERICANS HAD TO WAIT UNTIL 1952 FOR THEIR CITIZENSHIP AND VOTING RIGHTS.

FOR BLACK WOMEN - AND MEN - POLL TAXES AND LITERACY TESTS MADE CASTING A BALLOT DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

LATINA AND IMMIGRANT WOMEN ALSO FACED VOTING BARRIERS.

A 1975 EXTENSION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION OF VOTERS WHO SPOKE LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH.

IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO ALICE PAUL THAT THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS DID NOT END WITH THE 19TH AMENDMENT.

PAUL TRAVELLED TO SENECA FALLS TO ADVOCATE FOR A NEW CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT WOMEN AND MEN FROM DISCRIMINATION.

>> THERE WAS A WOMAN'S CONVENTION THAT WAS HELD HERE IN 1923.

AND AT THAT TIME, ALICE PAUL, WHO HAD BEEN INVITED HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE OF HER INVOLVEMENT IN THE WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE, SPOKE FROM OUR PULPIT AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE PUBLICLY DECLARED FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

OUR CHURCH HAS CONTINUED TO CARRY THAT TORCH ONTO ITS PRESENT.

IN OCTOBER OF 2011 WE ACTUALLY DEDICATED THE PULPIT AND OFFICIALLY DECLARED ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

ADDITIONALLY, IN 2019, WE DEDICATED AN ALICE PAUL SCULPTURE THAT SITS IN OUR NARTHEX.

VIRGINIA BECAME THE 38TH STATE TO RATIFY THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT SO WE AT THAT MOMENT DECIDED TO RING A BELL, OUR CHURCH BELL.

WE RANG THE BELL 97 TIMES, ONE TIME FOR EACH YEAR THAT IT TOOK TO RATIFY AND MAKE THIS AMENDMENT.

>> NARRATOR: THE ERA IS THE CURRENT FOCUS FOR COLINE JENKINS.

HER LONG LIST OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS EFFORTS INCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING FOR THE NATIONAL VOTES FOR WOMEN TRAIL AND TIRELESSLY WORKING FOR THE CREATION AND THE INSTALLATION OF THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS PIONEERS MONUMENT IN NEW YORK CITY'S CENTRAL PARK.

THIS IS THE PARK'S ONLY STATUE HONORING REAL WOMEN.

THE BRONZE MONUMENT FEATURES SUSAN B. ANTHONY, ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, AND SOJOURNER TRUTH GATHERED AROUND A TABLE PATTERNED AFTER A TABLE OWNED BY >> THIS TABLE IS ELIZABETH CADY STANTON'S WRITING TABLE.

AND IT HAS BEEN PASSED FROM ELIZABETH, TO HER DAUGHTER HARRIOT, TO HER DAUGHTER NORA, TO HER DAUGHTER RHODA, TO ME, RHODA'S DAUGHTER.

WHENEVER SOMEBODY COMES TO VISIT MY HOME, AND THIS TABLE IS IN MY HOME, I ASK THEM TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND WRITE A NOTE, FEEL THE INSPIRATION, WRITE WHATEVER YOU WANT BUT FEEL THE INSPIRATION.

SO, I BROUGHT A FEW OF THE NOTES.

AND IT SAYS, THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY IS LONG AND HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE, THIS GETS IT -ALL MEN AND WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

AND THIS ONE - LET'S SEE IT'S FROM DESIREE - DEAR FOREMOTHER NOT FOREFATHER - DEAR FOREMOTHER, WE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR MEMORY AND LIFE'S WORK ALIVE BY CONTINUING THE FIGHT.

SO, IT'S FUN TO HAVE OBJECTS AND FURNITURE AND BOOKS, BUT THESE ARE MORE IMPORTANT - THESE ARE "WE THE PEOPLE."

>> NARRATOR: AS OUR NATION CONTINUES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT "WE THE PEOPLE" MEANS, THE REFORM MOVEMENTS OF THE PAST AND THE SOCIAL ISSUES OF TODAY ARE OFTEN INTERWOVEN.

THIS IS TRUE AT ALBANY'S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EDUCATION CENTER, HOUSED IN THE FORMER HOME OF BLACK ABOLITIONISTS STEPHEN AND HARRIET MYERS.

>> MOST OF THE TIME, WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD THEY HEAR ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN OR FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

BUT THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL OF FOLK WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE STORY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD THAT PEOPLE ALMOST NEVER HEAR ABOUT.

SO, WE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE STORIES AND TO TELL THOSE STORIES.

>> NARRATOR: THE CENTER IS USING THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD'S LEGACY TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO BRING ABOUT THE SECOND ABOLITION - POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY AND THE END OF RACISM.

SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE TEENS ENGAGED IN THE CENTER'S YOUNG ABOLITIONIST LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.

>> WE CHOSE TO CALL THIS THE YOUNG ABOLITIONIST LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - LEADERSHIP WAS A CHOICE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE TEENS CAN COME TO PRACTICE BEING LEADERS.

TO CALL IT ABOLITIONIST FOR US WAS AN IMPORTANT WAY OF CONNECTING PRESENT TO PAST.

WHAT WE FOUND WAS OUR BLACK ABOLITIONISTS, THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN WAS ABOLISHING THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY, BUT IN ADDITION THEY EXTENDED THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISM TO AREAS THAT INCLUDED HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, JOBS, AND SO ON.

OUR TEENS THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH US IN THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COME TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEMPORARY INJUSTICES THAT ARE PART OF OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE ARE NOT NEW, THAT THEY HAVE ROOTS IN THE PAST, ALL THE WAY BACK.

>> NARRATOR: BEING PART OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS TO SHARE INFORMATION FROM THE PAST TO HELP INFORM CHANGES HAPPENING TODAY IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT GOAL AT THE ERIE CANAL MUSEUM.

>> WE AS A MUSEUM THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THE ERIE CANAL IS NOT JUST A STAGNANT PIECE OF HISTORY, IT'S STILL A VERY MUCH THRIVING BODY OF WATER, BUT ALSO, IT'S AN ENTIRE CORRIDOR THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE IDEAS, CONTINUES TO MOVE PEOPLE.

AND THE IMPACT THAT THE CANAL HAD HISTORICALLY ON THE PRESENT DAY IS IMPORTANT.

WHEN TALKING TO SYRACUSE RESIDENTS HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR CITY WAS BUILT HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR CITY CAN GO.

>> NARRATOR: RECOUNTING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN FROM THE PAST AND PRESENT TO INSPIRE AND IMPACT THE FUTURE IS THE CENTRAL THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME.

HAVING OUTGROWN ITS ORIGINAL 1969 SENECA FALLS LOCATION, THE ORGANIZATION MOVED ACROSS THE CAYUGA-SENECA CANAL, PURCHASING AND PRESERVING A HISTORIC KNITTING MILL AS ITS NEW HOME.

>> THE STORY OF THE MILL BUILDING IS FASCINATING BECAUSE THIS REGION WAS FILLED WITH ABOLITIONISTS AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

AND THE ABOLITIONISTS WHO WERE LEADING THE SENECA KNITTING MILL, BACK IN 1844, SAID WE WILL NOT MILL SLAVE COTTON HERE, WE WILL ONLY MILL WOOL.

AND SO, THEY GOT WOOL FROM SHEEP FARMERS FROM THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHO WOULD BRING THEIR WOOL HERE.

IT IS ALSO INTERESTING TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS A PLACE THAT HIRED WOMEN IN THE 19TH CENTURY, WHICH WAS NOT A COMMON THING TO DO.

AND SO, THE INTERSECTION OF ABOLITIONISTS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS KINDS OF IDEAS WERE VERY PRESENT HERE.

THE FACT THAT WE TOOK ON RENOVATING AND RESTORING THIS MILL BUILDING HAS BECOME A VERY IMPORTANT CONCEPT TO US.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN EASIER TO START WITH A NEW BUILDING, IN FACT IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AND IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE COST A LOT LESS MONEY.

YET WE WOULDN'T BE IN THE CENTER OF SENECA FALLS, WE WOULDN'T BE LOOKING ACROSS AT THE WESLEYAN CHAPEL, AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN EXACTLY IN THE PLACE WHERE HISTORY HAPPENED.

WHAT'S TERRIFIC IS THAT WE GET TO THINK ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS HERE, WE GET TO THINK ABOUT TELLING THE STORY OF OUR 293 AND COUNTING INDUCTEES, YET WE ALSO GET TO TELL THE STORY OF THE MILL.

AND WE GET TO TELL THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED ALONG THE CANAL.

AND HOW THIS VERY BUSY METROPOLIS IN THE 19TH CENTURY BECAME A PLACE WHERE ALL THESE IDEAS CAME TOGETHER.

>> NARRATOR: A CONTEMPORARY IDEA - TO PREPARE WOMEN TO RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE OR HOLD GOVERNMENT POSITIONS - IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE CANAL CORRIDOR.

SHARON NELSON'S CIVICALLY RE-ENGAGED WOMEN ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TRAINING FOCUSED ON THE SKILLS WOMEN NEED TO CONDUCT SUCCESSFUL POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.

FIRST AMENDMENT - FIRST VOTE OFFERS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO TEENS LIKE JANE OLIVER.

SHE HAS ORGANIZED PEACEFUL PROTESTS, WORKED ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, AND REGISTERED STUDENTS TO VOTE.

>> CONTINUING TO TEACH THIS HISTORY ABOUT WHERE WE COME FROM AND WHERE THIS MOVEMENT ORIGINATED FROM IS SO IMPORTANT.

LOOK AT THE WORK THAT ALL THESE WONDERFUL WOMEN DID IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THEIR LEGACY.

SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP FIGHTING AND GET TO THE WORLD THEY WERE HOPING FOR.

>> NARRATOR: TODAY'S NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE CANAL CORRIDOR AND BEYOND, IS THAT WOMEN CAN DO ANYTHING THEY SET THEIR MINDS TO.

GLASS ARTIST HELEN TEGELER WAS PART OF AN ALL-FEMALE GLASSBLOWING TEAM FROM THE CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS THAT TRAVELED THE ERIE CANAL CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF VOTING RIGHTS FOR WOMEN.

GLASSBLOWING HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A MALE-DOMINATED CAREER - BUT NOT ANYMORE.

>> IN MY SHORT 26-YEAR CAREER I HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS, OF COURSE.

BUT I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE CONTINUAL GROWTH OF MORE WOMEN LEARNING, TEACHING, GAINING RESPECT FOR THE AMAZING WORK THEY CREATE.

THE EARLY PIONEERS IN THE MOVEMENT PAVED THE WAY FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS TO STEP FORWARD WITH GREATER CONFIDENCE AND I AM HONORED TO BE PART OF THAT MOMENTUM.

>> NARRATOR: JEANETTE EPPS GREW UP IN SYRACUSE.

IN SCHOOL SHE EXCELLED IN MATH AND SCIENCE, AND WENT ON TO EARN A PH.D.

IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING.

SHE RECEIVED A PATENT FOR RESEARCH WORK AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NOW, AS AN ASTRONAUT, SHE IS HEADED TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

TAMMEE POINAN GRIMES IS PROUD OF HER FAMILY-OWNED TOUR BOAT BUSINESS, LAUNCHED WITH HER FATHER AT THE HELM.

TODAY SHE IS THE BOAT'S COAST GUARD-LICENSED CAPTAIN; CURRENTLY THE ONLY FEMALE TOUR BOAT CAPTAIN ON THE ERIE CANAL.

>> THERE USED TO BE KIND OF A BOX THAT WOMEN WERE PUT IN - AND THE BOX IS REALLY NOT THERE ANYMORE.

WOMEN CAN DO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING NOW.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CAREERS THAT WERE FOR MEN TYPICALLY IN THE PAST, BUT THAT'S OVER.

WOMEN CAN REALLY GO AFTER ANYTHING.

THERE ARE OTHER FEMALES ALONG THE SYSTEM.

WE TRAVEL THROUGH LOCK 32 AT CLOVER STREET IN PITTSFORD OFTEN.

THAT LOCK HAS A FEMALE LOCKMASTER.

THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS IN THE CANAL SYSTEM THAT ARE FEMALE.

I LEARNED THERE IS A WELDER THAT'S A FEMALE.

THERE'S TUG BOAT CAPTAINS, THERE'S A MARINE ENGINEER, THERE'S A CRANE OPERATOR.

SO, THERE ARE WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

THERE ARE LESS WOMEN THAN MEN BUT THEY DO EXIST AND THAT'S EXCITING.

>> NARRATOR: TODAY'S REFORMERS CONTINUE TO ADDRESS GENDER INEQUITIES IN PAY AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, AND VOTER SUPPRESSION, AND SO MUCH MORE.

BUT IT WAS THE ERIE CANAL - THE IDEAS OF EQUALITY IT CARRIED AND THE PEOPLE THOSE IDEAS INSPIRED - THAT HAS SERVED AS THE BEDROCK OF AMERICA'S BELIEF IN A BETTER SOCIETY FOR ALL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS SO STRIKING ABOUT THE CANAL TODAY BECAUSE IT'S HERE, THAT IT'S A WATERWAY THAT HAS FLOWED THROUGH TIME.

REALLY FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF WHEN OUR NATION WAS REALLY FORMING RIGHT TO THE PRESENT DAY.

IT'S ALSO I THINK, WHAT THE CANAL EMBODIED.

AND THAT IT BUILT, IF YOU WILL, WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

IT BECAME PART OF OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY.

THERE WAS A BOLDNESS AND RISK TAKING THAT WAS PRESENT IN PEOPLE SAYING LET'S BUILD THIS WATERWAY, LET'S DIG THIS WATERWAY ACROSS NEW YORK.

THERE WAS A SENSE OF FORWARD-PROGRESS THAT'S STILL A PART OF WHO WE ARE.

BUT I THINK THAT SPIRIT OF WHO ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE AS A NATION, HAS BEEN PART OF THE FLOW OF THE WATER AND THE IDEAS ALONG THE CANAL.

>> NARRATOR: THE YEAR 2025 MARKS THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ERIE CANAL'S OPENING.

THE ERIE CANALWAY WAS RECOGNIZED BY CONGRESS IN 2000 AS A NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR.

THE STORY OF THE UNITED STATES, WHICH CELEBRATES ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026, CANNOT BE TOLD WITHOUT TELLING THE STORY OF THE ERIE CANAL AND THE IDEAS IT TRANSPORTED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪