November 2, 2005 (ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC) – On Thursday, October 13, the new Roanoke Canal Museum, designed by architect Frank Harmon, FAIA, of Raleigh, official opened to the public during a special dedication ceremony attended by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Department of Transportation, Wildlife Resources Commission, and local officials.

The Roanoke Canal, built between 1819 and 1823, was the North Carolina segment of the Roanoke Navigation System, which connected the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with Norfolk over a distance of 400 miles. Visible on the grounds of the museum are the locks that were once used to lower loaded bateaux.

In 1885, after the railroad had become preferred transportation method for the textile and paper industries, the Roanoke Navigation and Water Power Company purchased the building and converted it into a hydro-electric power plant. The Canal Museum was shaped out of the brick building that served as the generator house and offices for the power company. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Throughout the design process, Harmon kept community members involved. Local high school students even helped with measurements. “We were very impressed with the amount of community involvement because of the love and respect the people of Roanoke Rapids have for their city and its history,” Harmon said.

Adaptive reuse of historic buildings is a bit of a departure for Frank Harmon, who has received numerous state, regional, national and international awards and other accolades for his innovative, modern design solutions. He chose to do this project, he said, because “I knew that it would make a difference for Roanoke Rapids and the region.”

The museum is actually part of a larger project that includes a seven-mile trail along the old Canal, which contains some of the best preserved early nineteenth century canal construction in the nation, according to the Roanoke Canal Commission, which began working on this project in 1984 and will continue to maintain it for the public.

Exhibits in the museum will focus on the history of transportation and navigation on the Roanoke River, including the evolution of the canal. Design Dimension, Inc., of Raleigh, designed the exhibition installations.

When the canal was completed in 1823, it provided an economic boost for the area. Today, the Canal Museum, trail and other projects planned in the area give the town a reason to look forward to a lively future.

The Roanoke Canal Museum is located at 13 Jackson Street Extension, Roanoke Rapids, N.C. For more information, visit www.roanokecanal.com.

For more information on Frank Harmon, go to www.frank@frankharmon.com.