Session

About this Session

Long before railroads became a viable transportation option, the completion of the Morris Canal gave New Jersey its first interstate transportation system. Iron-making settlements in the New Jersey Highlands grew into industrial towns, and with the delivery of Pennsylvania anthracite coal, coastal towns developed into major industrial cities. Today, the Canal Society of New Jersey (CSNJ) is working with communities, organizations, and agencies such as the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to create a Morris Canal Greenway that preserves the Canal’s remaining features while establishing a statewide history and recreation corridor. Over the past decade, this effort has grown from a grassroots initiative into a statewide project now reflected in planning documents across multiple counties and municipalities.

Together, the presenters will examine how technology is being used to broaden access, engage new audiences, and support preservation goals. Topics include the development of a satellite greenway visitor center model; archival scanning and digitization projects that make CSNJ collections accessible through an online archival system; virtual programming and Zoom-based lectures that extend educational reach; expanded social media initiatives; and emerging interpretive tools such as archival film and AI-assisted animation. The session will also address ongoing challenges in sustaining relevance, access, and preservation of the canal’s physical remains in the 21st century.