Local author Michael Keene will explore the profound impact the Erie Canal had on America. He will look at how development of the canal led to major social, political, and religious movements that swept through upstate New York during the 19th century. Registration Required. In addition to The Psychic Highway: How the Erie Canal Changed America, Keene is the author of a number of regional history books including Mad House: The Hidden History of Insane Asylums in 19th-Century New York.