Seaway Trail Discovery Center Opens Its Doors
by Nancy Cardillo

When the Discovery Center doors open in early July 2000, the public will—for the first time—have an opportunity to truly understand what a scenic byway program encompasses. It will be a fun learning environment with interactive exhibits that change seasonally.
On entering, a family can step into a car or peer into a tent for a one-on-one film orientation to the Center. In other areas, through the use of animatronics, a cow will talk about the dairy industry; and an innkeeper will tell about people who have made a difference along the Trail. Visitors will also be invited to handle pieces of history—try on a dress similar to the one worn by Susan B. Anthony or open a roll of drawings for a Frank Lloyd Wright House.
The goal for the Discovery Center is to encourage visitors to leave the Center with new ways of looking at the Trail—to be the beginning of many forays to cities, sites and events. It is hoped that the Center will help to guide the visitor’s appreciation for the richness of the environment—not just the natural environment, but the people who have lived here, the industries that have shaped the land, the architecture, the maritime heritage, history in general (but specifically the War of 1812) and recreational opportunities.
In addition to the exhibits, a gift shop will provide a sampling of crafts and products made along the Trail and, of course, books and guides to enrich your journey. 
The idea for a Discovery Center that would be part of a scenic byway program was part of the early thinking when the Seaway Trail was incorporated in 1986. It  was then that Vincent Dee, the founder of the Seaway Trail, had the idea that a storefront could be used to tell about the Trail. According to Executive Director Teresa Mitchell, who has guided the organization since its inception, Dee recognized that the Seaway Trail needed to be “something more than green and white signs along the road,” as did the Seaway Trail Board and subsequent board presidents, who provided active leadership and recognized the potential of Dee’s original vision. 
The idea evolved into a Discovery Center,  a building dedicated to a scenic byway. It was a very innovative idea that gained momentum with the help of then Assemblyman Matt Murphy and State Senator John McHugh. In 1991 the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), legislation that had just been passed by Congress, was revolutionary in providing scenic byway “enhancement” money. After reviewing the legislation with Mitchell, Murphy and McHugh felt that, through ISTEA, funding could be secured to pay for the envisioned Center. Today a $1.19 million dollar federal ISTEA grant is making the Discovery Center possible.
Talking about the Center, Mitchell called it “the evolution of a store front”. More than a drop-in tourism center providing literature and directions, the Center will encourage visitors to recognize the richness and diversity of the environment; and the different ways of looking at and interpreting it.
The next task was to find a suitable historic building along the Trail to serve as home. The old Union Hotel, built in 1817 by Edward White and located on Sackets Harbor’s main square, provided a central location and the desired historical context. The fact that the building is owned by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation also provides the match with a state agency required in the legislation.
The partnership that resulted epitomizes the type of regional partnering that Governor George Pataki has encouraged. The 1991 grant money has been used to restore the building, modify it to meet Americans with Disabilities (ADA) requirements, and acquire the lot next door for parking. 
So, watch for the opening of the Center in early July and call 800-SEAWAY-T for days and times the Center is open to the public. Visit often to see the ever-changing exhibits. Enjoy the many discoveries that await you. “Happy trails!”