Annual Supporting Donors
Become a Supporter Today!
You are invited to join us in our mission of preservation, education, and recreation! Your financial partnership helps restore and preserve a rare, important piece of early Indiana history and provides hands-on learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. By supporting the Wabash & Erie Canal with your gift, you make it possible for local and global visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Indiana's last remaining public watered section of the Wabash & Erie Canal. Along this unique waterway, stewarded by our organization since the 1970's, you can enjoy a hike along the miles of trails networking the historical features marked along the towpath. Indoors, our museum “walks you through time” from Indiana's early settlement through the end of the Canal Era.
Your gift brings history alive!
The work we do to share Indiana history with visitors while offering accessible recreation to the public is only possible because of the generous support of donors. Any financial gift of $25 and above makes you an annual supporter, and we offer special perks at certain levels of giving. See those incentives below for families/individuals and corporate donors!
Individual/Family Perks
This term is pronounced like "hoagie," and it is the term used for the canal workers who led mule teams along the towpath and tended to the animals' needs. While it was not a glamorous job, it was essential to keeping the boats and commerce moving! *Supporters at this level receive a letter confirming your status as a valued partner of the Wabash & Erie Canal.
More commonly called a "steersman," this crew member would operate the tiller, steering the boat down the canal and following captain's orders. *Supporters at this level receive Hoggee perks PLUS free museum entry for you and any three guests per visit during the calendar year.
Also called a "lock-tender," this individual would need to be at the ready, living adjacent to a lock site and operating the lock for passing boats whenever needed. The role was crucial to the flow of traffic on the canal and required individuals (and families!) who could handle the rigors of living self-sufficiently in potentially isolated locations. *Supporters at this level receive First Mate perks PLUS free Case House entry for the donor and any three guests per visit in 2023, a free exclusive Canal supporter T-shirt, and 1 night free stay in the Lockmaster's Airbnb cabin at Canal Park, pending availability. (T-shirts will be available for pickup in the spring)
This giving level is named for the 468 miles that the Wabash & Erie Canal covered from Toledo to Evansville, and it is reserved for those who wish to commit annually to a sustaining donation of $468 or greater. See the 468 Mile Club page for more details. Donors at this level are essential to helping us fulfill our mission while retaining maximum accessibility to all guests! *Supporters at this level receive Lockmaster perks PLUS a free exclusive Canal supporter hat, four free boat tickets, and a VIP all-access tour of Canal Park with executive director Mike Tetrault upon request. (hat and T-shirt will be available for pickup in the spring)
Corporate Perks
Partners receive:
- Recognition on signage in the Interpretive Center lobby
- Recognition at our Annual Meeting in October
- One free weekday rental of the Meeting Room during the months of January, February, March, November, or December.
Partners receive:
- Recognition on signage in the Interpretive Center lobby
- Recognition at our Annual Meeting in October
- One free weekday rental of the Meeting Room during the months of January, February, March, November, or December.
Partners receive:
- Recognition on signage in the Interpretive Center lobby with logo
- Recognition at our Annual Meeting in October
- A free advertisement on Canal social media channels at the time of your choosing
- One free weekday rental of the Full Hall anytime in 2023 (seating up to 300)
Partners receive:
- All Gold-level perks
- An afternoon Canal Park experience for up to 125 guests (employees and families). This includes canal boat rides, museum entry, Reed Case House entry, and Pioneer Village visits with craftspeople and demonstrations.
To join for the year, select the most convenient option below:
Online: click the "Online Supporter Donations" button below to be redirected to our online giving platform. There you can select your level of giving for the calendar year.
Mail-in: Click the "Supporter Form" button below to access a printable PDF you can fill out and mail to us.
*Note: annual support gifts operate on a calendar year basis and are effective from January 1 through December 31.
See the Interactive Map!
Get a closer look at Canal Park with our Interactive Map!
