The Erie Canal Created
Wealthy Victorian Towns
and Prosperous Cities
Between Albany and Buffalo
Completed in 1825, the Erie
Canal proved a most
successful Canal and would
make New York City the
financial center of the
Empire State
Wealthy Victorian Towns
and Prosperous Cities
Between Albany and Buffalo
Completed in 1825, the Erie
Canal proved a most
successful Canal and would
make New York City the
financial center of the
Empire State
Erie Canal History, In Depth History of the Erie Canal
In 1825 The Erie Canal Opened a Water Route Of 365 Miles
From Albany To Buffalo
From Albany To Buffalo
The Erie Canal Opened the West for Trade and Travel
Barges Pulled by Mules on Canal Towpaths Made the Trip in Ten Days
Barges Pulled by Mules on Canal Towpaths Made the Trip in Ten Days
Remnants of the 1825 Erie Canal, the first of
three versions, offers historic sites and old
towpaths where mules once pulled the boats
three versions, offers historic sites and old
towpaths where mules once pulled the boats
The Erie Canal followed the path of least
resistance from the ocean to the Great Lakes;
there were no major mountain ranges in its path.
The 363-mile canal was the first all-water link from
the Great Lakes to the Atlantic's eastern seaports.
The original canal was built starting in 1817 and
completed in 1825 with a depth of four feet, a width
of 40 feet, and the use of 83 locks to lift boats a
total of 570 feet from sea level on the Hudson River
at Troy, to Lake Erie near Buffalo
Canals had long been dreamed of and even
planned by engineers such as George Washington
who mapped a route when he had his headquarters
in Newburgh, NY.
By 1790 a private company had improved several
rivers for navigation and commerce near
Schenectady and Oswego, but it was the will of De
Wit Clinton, the Governor of New York, that would
make a State-wide seaway possible.
resistance from the ocean to the Great Lakes;
there were no major mountain ranges in its path.
The 363-mile canal was the first all-water link from
the Great Lakes to the Atlantic's eastern seaports.
The original canal was built starting in 1817 and
completed in 1825 with a depth of four feet, a width
of 40 feet, and the use of 83 locks to lift boats a
total of 570 feet from sea level on the Hudson River
at Troy, to Lake Erie near Buffalo
Canals had long been dreamed of and even
planned by engineers such as George Washington
who mapped a route when he had his headquarters
in Newburgh, NY.
By 1790 a private company had improved several
rivers for navigation and commerce near
Schenectady and Oswego, but it was the will of De
Wit Clinton, the Governor of New York, that would
make a State-wide seaway possible.
Just as they would have in 1825, Boats tie up
in Fairport (below)for the night.
Boats shaped like the one in the foreground,
narrow with a shallow draft, would have carried
passengers and livestock west, grain, ore, and
finished goods east
in Fairport (below)for the night.
Boats shaped like the one in the foreground,
narrow with a shallow draft, would have carried
passengers and livestock west, grain, ore, and
finished goods east
The last modernization in
1917 created a barge
canal capable of
conveying commercial
cargo between Buffalo
and NY City
1917 created a barge
canal capable of
conveying commercial
cargo between Buffalo
and NY City
Erie Canal's tow paths have been paved for
safe biking and walking. The once prosperous
manufacturing towns have attempted to change
with the times and stay vital.
safe biking and walking. The once prosperous
manufacturing towns have attempted to change
with the times and stay vital.
Erie Canal History
Much of the Canal equipment has been preserved and is 1920s
vintage.
vintage.
Much of the Erie Canal
lock equipment has been
meticulously preserved
and is 1917 vintage, the
time of the last major
improvement.
lock equipment has been
meticulously preserved
and is 1917 vintage, the
time of the last major
improvement.
The first canal built in 1825 was 40 feet wide and four feet
deep. Boats could carry as much as 30 tons of freight.
deep. Boats could carry as much as 30 tons of freight.
The now abandoned tow
paths have become bike
trails
paths have become bike
trails
On October 26, 1825, the Governor and other dignitaries made the first
passage aboard the boat Seneca Chief, a trip of ten days from Buffalo to New
York City, a distance of 500 miles. There in NY Harbor Governor Clinton
ceremoniously dumped a barrel of Lake Erie water into NY harbor calling it the,
"Joining Of The waters.". From that point on, New York City would eclipse both
Boston and Philadelphia as the shipping hub of the US and would become the
premier financial and commercial city in the country.
passage aboard the boat Seneca Chief, a trip of ten days from Buffalo to New
York City, a distance of 500 miles. There in NY Harbor Governor Clinton
ceremoniously dumped a barrel of Lake Erie water into NY harbor calling it the,
"Joining Of The waters.". From that point on, New York City would eclipse both
Boston and Philadelphia as the shipping hub of the US and would become the
premier financial and commercial city in the country.
History: Canal Improvements Continued Page Two
By 1862 the canal had been so successful that improvement were made to increase cargo capacity. Depth
was increase form the original four feet to seven feet and the cargo capacity of the barges increased to 240
tons. By 1883 the canal became free of tolls; it had recouped all construction and maintenance costs and
profited the State $42 million.
Continued
By 1862 the canal had been so successful that improvement were made to increase cargo capacity. Depth
was increase form the original four feet to seven feet and the cargo capacity of the barges increased to 240
tons. By 1883 the canal became free of tolls; it had recouped all construction and maintenance costs and
profited the State $42 million.
Continued
An Erie Canal in depth history follows the path of least
resistance taken by the Erie Canal from the ocean to the
Great Lakes.
On its course there were no major mountain ranges on the
363-mile, all-water link from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic
resistance taken by the Erie Canal from the ocean to the
Great Lakes.
On its course there were no major mountain ranges on the
363-mile, all-water link from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic
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Rental Cars Available
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luggage compartment
•Baggage must not exceed 62 inches when adding the total exterior dimensions of the piece (length + width + height). A charge of $30
- $40 (depending on the distance traveled) will be applied to any baggage above the 62-inch limit.
◦Packaging exceptions will only be made for the following items: bicycles, skis and ski poles must be packed in wood, canvas or other
substantial container, and securely fastened (Excerpted from Greyhound)
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Old locks of the 1825 Erie Canal