SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) – Currently nestled in the Erie Canal Museum is an exhibit that is both festive and historical for Syracuse.
The 38th annual gingerbread gallery had its grand opening last Friday and all 38 total gingerbread houses will be sitting pretty until January 7th.
From the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, to Crouse College at SU, to the Onondaga Pottery Company, there are tons of different submissions in the gallery that have deep ties to the city and surrounding area.
Now it’s not just the gingerbread masterpieces that have historical significance, but the actual exhibit structure itself.
Steph Adams, the Interpretation Coordinator for the museum, said that the gingerbread gallery took inspiration from European settlers who came to Syracuse long ago.
“The history of building gingerbread houses goes back to the history of German immigrants,” they said. “There were particularly a lot of German immigrants who settled along the Erie Canal, kind of in the Franklin Square area, so this harkens back to that tradition for the Christmas time.”
The little window displays that some of the houses sit in directly resemble windows from buildings in the village along the Erie Canal.
The gallery isn’t all for show, it’s also part of a competition.
Until December 31st, people who attend the exhibit will have the chance to scan a QR code and vote through the People’s Choice Awards for which gingerbread building they think deserves to be crowned as the best.
Derrick Pratt, the Director of Education and Public Programs for the museum, said that this is a multi-category competition for prizes.
“We have four different categories that people can win prizes in,” he said. “There’s children, senior, general public, then the confectioners or professional bakers who enter into the contest to win a cash prize.”
The gallery started almost half a century ago with only a couple gingerbread houses, but has grown into a staple here in the community.
Those who wish to attend the gallery can head to the Erie Canal Museum at 318 Erie Boulevard East and admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), $4 for children (3-17) and free for children under the age of two.
