Erie Canal Lock 52 Complex
Why it's listed
Beside the New York State Thruway at the western edge of Port Byron, this 3.4-acre complex preserves a working slice of the Enlarged Erie Canal. Its centerpiece is Lock 52, built about 1849-53 of limestone ashlar with two chambers divided by a center pier. The lock was later improved with a winching system, a lengthened south chamber and deeper channels. Nearby are a dewatered stone-lined canal prism built in 1854-58 and a stone culvert. On the north side stand the Erie House, a frame building of about 1894 that served as a saloon, hotel and residence, and a late nineteenth-century blacksmith shop and mule barn. The interior of the Erie House keeps much of its original wood paneling and plan. The group is valued for showing both the engineering of the canal and the businesses that served boat traffic until the canal was abandoned here in 1917. Potential archaeological remains of the original Erie Canal are also included.
Significance in brief: The complex is tied to the transportation, engineering and commercial history of the Enlarged Erie Canal between about 1849 and 1917. Lock 52 is described as one of the most intact nineteenth-century canal locks in New York State. The Erie House and the blacksmith shop/mule barn are rare surviving examples of canal-associated businesses and building types.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98001146, listed September 3, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Maiden Ln., Port Byron |
|---|---|
| County | Cayuga County |
| Listed | September 3, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001146 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1849 to ca. 1917 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / Italianate (Erie House); canal lock |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Maritime History, Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Form lists current functions as vacant/not in use and museum. The canal channel is dewatered but stone-lined and well defined, and Lock 52 is largely intact. |
| Acreage | 3.4 |
| Coordinates | 43.03695, -76.63475 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98001146.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5388278
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.