Bringing “Sal” to Little Falls – Support Rotary’s MVG Project

A Public Art & Tourism Project – Celebrating Our Erie Canal Heritage

Little Falls, New York, has a story worth telling—and a history worth seeing.

Situated along the historic Erie Canal, Little Falls has been shaped by the waterway that connected communities, moved people and goods, and helped transform New York State and the nation. Today, we have an opportunity to celebrate that heritage in a new, creative, and highly visible way: through a collection of life sized-mule sculptures placed throughout our community.

The inspiration comes from one of the most beloved symbols of the Erie Canal—the canal mule—and especially Sal, immortalized in the classic Erie Canal song:

“I’ve got an old mule and her name is Sal…”

For generations, those words have helped keep the story of the Erie Canal alive. Our vision is to bring Sal and her fellow canal mules to life in Little Falls through a series of large-scale, artistically decorated mule sculptures.

Public Art That Becomes a Destination

Communities have demonstrated how distinctive public art can become part of a city’s identity. Saratoga Springs is well known for its colorful horse sculptures, Chicago has their painted cows, while Buffalo has celebrated its namesake through creative bison sculptures.

Little Falls can do the same with the Erie Canal mule.

Imagine visitors arriving in Little Falls and discovering beautifully decorated, life-sized mules throughout the city. Each mule could be individually designed by an artist to tell a different story—our canal history, industries, natural beauty, local landmarks, traditions, or the people who helped build our community.

Together, they would create an experience that encourages people to explore Little Falls rather than simply pass through it.Visitors could follow a “Sal’s Trail” map to find the mules, take photographs with them, share those photographs on social media, learn pieces of local history along the way, and visit our shops, restaurants, attractions, parks and historic sites.

The mules would become more than sculptures. They would become ambassadors for Little Falls.

Connecting Our Past to Our Future

Mules played an important role in the history of the Erie Canal, pulling canal boats along the towpath and helping move passengers and products across New York State.

That makes the mule an especially meaningful symbol for Little Falls.

It represents hard work, perseverance, dependability and determination—qualities that also describe the generations of people who built and sustained our community.

By transforming this historic symbol into engaging public art, we can introduce Erie Canal history to a new generation while giving visitors another reason to discover Little Falls today.

Little Falls can do the same with the Erie Canal mule.

Together, they would create an experience that encourages people to explore Little Falls rather than simply pass through it.

Visitors could follow a “Sal’s Trail” map to find the mules, take photographs with them, share those photographs on social media, learn pieces of local history along the way, and visit our shops, restaurants, attractions, parks and historic sites.

The mules would become more than sculptures. They would become ambassadors for Little Falls.

An Investment That Keeps GivingUnlike a one-day festival or temporary advertising campaign, these sculptures can continue attracting attention year after year.

They can become part of walking tours, school programs, Erie Canal celebrations, community events, photography contests and tourism promotions. Local businesses and organizations could sponsor individual mules, and artists could create designs that make every sculpture unique.

Most importantly, the project has the potential to create the kind of experience people remember and talk about:

“Have you seen those beautiful Erie Canal mules in Little Falls?”

That simple question can become an invitation to visit our community. Every visitor who comes looking for Sal may also discover something else—a restaurant they love, a local shop, our architecture, our waterfront, our history, our parks, or simply the beauty and character of Little Falls.

We Invite You to Help Bring Sal Home

We are seeking donors, sponsors and community partners who share our belief that Little Falls’ history can help build its future.

Your support will help create and install these distinctive mule sculptures and establish a public-art attraction that celebrates our Erie Canal heritage while promoting tourism, community pride and economic activity.

This is more than a sculpture project.

It is history.

It is art.

It is tourism.

It is community pride.

And it is uniquely Little Falls.

With your help, we can bring Sal and the story of the Erie Canal to life—and give visitors one more unforgettable reason to discover Little Falls, New York.

We are looking for contributions for:

The cost of the artistic design and mold for “Sal” –

Cost $17,600 one-time expenseSponsors for each hard cased fiberglass cast of “Sal”.

Cost $7000 each – includes the cast, painting, shipping, base and flange, and a plaque to dedicate to a family, person, friend, etc.

Donations of any amount- donate to cover an eye, a nose, a tail, the head, the rump, or buy the whole “Sal”.

Locations being considered for the initial installations include but are not limited to Sterzinar Park, Eastern Park, Western Park, Rotary Park, Seeley Street (the actual old towpath route along the Erie Canal) and selected locations on Main Street. (location sites cannot be guaranteed.)

Let’s all sing together…..

“I know a mule her name is Sal, 15 miles on the Erie Canal” – and let’s make this happen!!

Go to www.givemv.org and in the search line type in Rotary Club of Little Falls or visit:

https://www.givemv.org/organizations/rotary-club-of-little-falls-community-charity-fund

The event goes live for “giving” during Mohawk Valley Gives week of September 14th–18th.