Governor dewitt clinton of new york, the driving force behind. There was an increase for food product prices along the atlantic coast. Built between 1817 and 1825, the original erie canal traversed 363 miles from albany to buffalo. The erie canal was completed in 1825 and became the backbone of an economic and cultural explosion that defined the image of new york. It is the story of a remarkable achievement of the early american republic, now 200 years ago. Important as it was, the erie canal did not cause the great migration to michigan. When clinton became governor of the state, he pushed through legislation funding the construction of the canal clintons big ditch also dubbed clintons folly was born.
It was an immediate financial success, 7 years after its opening it was completely paid off by the tolls charged. Opened in 1825, the canal proved so commercially viable that construction of an. Getting the canal built building such a long canal was a huge undertaking in the early 1800s. On this date in history, the erie canal opened in 1825. After more than two years of digging, the 425mile erie canal was opened on october 26, 1825, by governor. The cruise goes through the history of the canal and also takes passengers through lock 18.
When the federal government concluded that the project was too ambitious to undertake, the state of new york took on the task of carving 363 miles of canal through the wilderness with nothing but the muscle power of men and horses. The erie canal 1825 paintings of carl rakeman about. It is eminently suitable for framing and permanent display in a library or study. Seeing history on the erie canal is now available on amazon. Map and profile of the erie canal originally published in. Once the gates were closed the water pressure would push the gates. Hed be especially interested in a volume that had a lot of maps, technical explanations, etc.
Chemung, chenango, crooked lake, oneida lake, and genesee valley canals abandoned, late 1870s. The erie canal and the novel, in frank bergmann, ed. The erie canal readerpoems, essays, travelogues, and fiction by major american and british writerscaptures the colorful landscape and life along the erie canal from its birth in the new york frontier, through its heyday as a passage of culture and commerce, to its present decline into disuse. Overhead aqueducts were used to allow streams to cross the canal. A guide to 400 miles of adventure and history along the erie canalway trail. Condon, who wrote about this system in his 1974 book, stars in. Locks were built to overcome the 571ft 174m difference between the level of the river and that of lake erie. The erie canal is a canal in new york, united states that is part of the eastwest, crossstate route of the new york state canal system formerly known as the new york state barge canal. This painting shows the seneca chief, the flagship of a flotilla making the maiden voyage down the erie canal.
Erie canal by erie canal museum, martin morganstein and. Laws of the state of new york, in relation to the erie and champlain canals published by authority, under the direction of the secretary of state e. The boat carried mules and people from albany to buffalo. Canal society of new york state series a list of books, articles and other pieces dealing with the erie canal. The canal s opening ignited the first great western migration. The canal spanned 363 miles, and its completion helped to speed up the development of the west. Oct 26, 2016 the erie canal changes the face of commerce for young america.
It seems that you have missed the necessary options to answer this question, but anyway, here is the answer. The canal, which was completed in 1825, also worked economically. The erie canal tells the story of one of americas most ambitious publicworks projects. The erie canal opens, connecting the great lakes with the atlantic ocean via the hudson river. National significance and historical context erie canalway national. It describes what a trip on a boat would be like on the erie canal.
And each of these communities in that region has a piece of this book. This is shown by the fact that public land sales at detroit reached a high point in 1825, the year the erie canal opened, and then declined in the years immediately following. The channel opened in 1825 to link lake erie with the hudson river. So marked was the success of the erie canal that a veritable frenzy for canal building spread over the whole country, which manifested itself in new york state in the surveying of hundreds of miles of proposed routes and in the building of several lateral. How chicago transformed from a midwestern outpost town to a. Hosford, printers, albany, 1825 map and profiles of newyork state canals. May 04, 2017 shipwreck identified as rare canal boat. In the early days of the erie canal 18251918 the canal was a man made ditch 40 feet wide and only 4 feet deep. The 363mile erie canal was begun at rome, new york, on july 4, 1817. In the early days of the erie canal 18251918 the canal was a man made ditch. By linking buffalo to new york city, the waterway decreased freight costs. Oct 12, 2018 how chicago transformed from a midwestern outpost town to a towering city the windy city spurred its miraculous growth by building canals, laying sewers and jacking up buildings. The erie canal was officially opened on october 25, 1825.
Lock 9, erie canal article about lock 9, erie canal by the. The canals development spurred successful industry and a booming economy, sparking massive urban growth in an area that was previously virtually unexplored wilderness. An erie canal cruise company, based in herkimer, operates from midmay until midoctober with daily cruises. Aug 01, 2001 the erie canal museum, founded in 1962, seeks to keep erie canal history and heritage alive. Theres no such thing as you cruise along the erie canal under the lift bridge at fairport, n. Completion of erie canal in 1825 encouraged the growth of. Each erie canal art print is produced using archival inks, ships within 48 hours, and comes with a 30day money back guarantee. Historical timeline erie canalway national heritage corridor. Dewitt clinton travels from buffalo to new york harbor and ceremoniously dumps water from lake erie into the harbor. This story was based on a song about the erie canal. By 1896 lengthened chambers let most erie canal locks pass two boats through in tandem. Completion of erie canal in 1825 encouraged the growth of the. Shop for erie canal art prints from our community of independent artists and iconic brands.
After more than two years of digging, the 425mile erie canal was. The erie canal was conceived to alleviate this problem. In this year that marks the bicentennial of the groundbreaking for the erie canal, wcny is committed to telling the national and even international impact of the erie, the canal that made america, said robert j. The success of the erie canal set off a burst of canal building. It is a canal in new york state, united states, that runs from the hudson river to lake erie, connecting the great lakes with the atlantic ocean it cut transport costs into what was then wilderness by about 90%. Erie canalway national heritage corridor history and culture.
The erie canal is a destination for tourists from all over the world, and has inspired guidebooks dedicated to exploration of the waterway. Begun in 1817 and opened in its entirety 1825, the erie canal is considered the engineering marvel of the 19th century. A little historical background and a lot of tales about the erie canal. So marked was the success of the erie canal that a veritable frenzy for canalbuilding spread over the whole country, which manifested itself in new york state in the surveying of hundreds of miles of proposed routes and in the building of several lateral.
Early images of hope and optimism well beforethe erie canal officially opened in 1825, the idea of a canal occupied the imagination of. Historic broad street bridge and the erie canal sesquicentennial, 18251975. Building the canal required major innovations in engineering. The erie canal, which opened in 1825, connects lake erie with albany, new york, which is located along the hudson river. Over,000 boats used the canal in the first year and, at least, 4,000 people traveled on the canal. The canal resulted in a massive population surge in western new york, and opened regions further west to increased settlement. How chicago transformed from a midwestern outpost town to a towering city the windy city spurred its miraculous growth by building canals, laying sewers and jacking up buildings. West of troy, 83 canal locks were built to accommodate the 500foot rise in elevation. Erie canalway national heritage corridor historical timeline. It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in north america. Erie canal apush questions may cover a number of topics associated with the canal, including the reason for its construction and location, as well as its impact on trade and migration. Marys falls canal soo canal between lakes superior and huron was opened in 1855, cleveland. And while washingtons canal was a failure, citizens of new york thought they might be able to construct a canal that would reach hundreds of miles westward. Construction began in 1817 and was completed in 1825.
There are actually three immediate effects of the completion of the erie canal in 1825 and these are the following. Fotowerks, printed on parchment stock, this official new york state historic map depict in minute detail the erie canal as originally built in 1825. Dewitt clinton, new york state built the waterway that opened the west to settlement and made new york city the center of finance and commerce. Credit for this entrepreneurial attitude is due, in part, to a nationallysignificant treasure. The erie canal by peter spier goodreads share book. A fleet of boats, led by governor dewitt clinton aboard the seneca chief sailed from buffalo to new york city in record timejust ten days.
Jun 01, 2009 the erie canal is a beautifully illustrated picture book that my children, now adults, enjoyed each night as i sang the lyrics to them. Jul 14, 2017 the erie canal was conceived to alleviate this problem. Jul 27, 2019 west of troy, 83 canal locks were built to accommodate the 500foot rise in elevation. The canal was opened by governor dewitt clinton who. The erie canal explains how a canal was built as a solution to this problem. Erie canalway national heritage corridor engineering. Completion of erie canal in 1825 encouraged the growth of the midwest because it l inked the great lakes to the atlantic coast.
The building of the erie canal was the engineering marvel that unleashed the growth of the young nation that was the united states. Gateway to the west 16141925 is a fourvolume set covering six counties in upstate new york. Originally, it ran 363 miles 584 km from the hudson river in albany to lake erie in buffalo. The idea of building a canal from the east coast to the interior of north america was proposed by george washington, who actually attempted such a thing in the 1790s.
United states history timeline, 18101819, from, with 1817 detail on the construction of the erie canal. A territorial conflict began with canada over the great lakes. Martin morganstein, development director of the museum, and joan h. Marys falls canal soo canal between lakes superior and huron was opened in 1855, cleveland read more. Cregg, volunteer guide and researcher at the museum, have carefully selected from the museums extensive collection over two hundred images that depict life on the erie canal. The other side displays, the coat of arms of the state of new york and a section of the canal showing locks and tunnel, with the bay of new york and city, and ship in full sail, with the inscription, erie canal commenced july 4, 1817. History slow until 1832, when the ohio and erie canal begun in 1825 to connect lake erie and the ohio river was completed. Push the tiller in the direction you want the stern to go was her single most important bit of advice. His book needed a map of that magnificent undertaking to underscore his. The sheer size of the erie canal, 350 miles in length, plus its enormous cost. Construction began on the erie canal on july 4, 1817 in rome, new york.
After 190 years, nys erie canal a relic with a hefty cost ny daily. Gave ny direct access to chicago and the growing west. It is simple enough for them to understand the basics of what the canal is all about. The canal, considered a marvel of the modern world at the time, allowed western farmers to ship surplus crops to sell in the north and allowed northern manufacturers to ship finished goods to sell in the west. The standard canal boat of 1825 carried 40 tons and had a draft. This online version is part of the schenectady digital history archive, the local history and genealogy web site of the schenectady county public library, affiliated with the nygenweb, usgenweb and american history and genealogy projects and the american. Colorful photographs and pictures from the past will keep students engaged during this lesson. New yorks erie canal by boat new yorks erie canal by boat. The erie canal changes the face of commerce for young america. The canal, stretching from new york to lake erie, opened up the west in the early 1800s. Erie canal by erie canal museum, martin morganstein and joan. I was delighted that many years later i was able to purchase a copy for my grandchildren. There were many times when there was either too much or not enough water in the canal. This map, published by lewis henry morgan in his 1857 book league of the.
It linked lake erie and all the great lakes to the hudson river and new york. The erie canal museum, founded in 1962, seeks to keep erie canal history and heritage alive. He spent his entire career pushing a variety of projects to completion, including over. The book details holthams travels in parts of the eastern united states.
A canal between the new york cities of albany and buffalo, completed in 1825. On october 25, 1825, the entire length of the erie canal was complete. The canal consisted of 85 locks to manage a 500 foot 150 meter rise in elevation from the hudson river to buffalo. Customize your erie canal print with hundreds of different frames and mats, if desired. When it was completed in 1825, it was the first transportation route connecting the atlantic ocean and the great lakes that did not require the portage of craft over land. The canal, which dates to 1825, runs from buffalo to albany, n. Traveling the erie canal, 1836 eyewitness to history. A picturesque celebration of the wedding of the waters followed the completion of the work. The massive job was begun in 1817 and completed in 1825. This dual push and pull is particularly evi dent in erie. Sal, the mule made famous by the erie canal song in 19 has. It was built to create a navigable water route from new york city and the atlantic ocean to the great lakes. There is a lot of context about canal building in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, so the actual construction of the erie canal comes toward the end of the book. I want to get him something on the erie canal, but i havent been able to tell if theres anything good out there.
The canal was 363 miles 584 kilometers long, 40 feet 12 m wide, and 4 feet deep 1. The history of locks is a subject in it self and would take a book if explored completely. While some people thought the canal was a good idea, other people were against it. The canal was straightened a bit, the channel was increased in size to 7. Ohio and erie canal waterway, united states britannica. My dad is a civil engineer who enjoys reading the odd popular history book. Building the erie canal and the american empire while attempting to be a. Part two is the pony express book which symbolizes the great push to the pacific ocean.
The erie canal in new york from folly to fame farm and. Taking advantage of the mohawk river gap in the appalachian mountains, the erie canal, 363 miles 584 km long, was the first canal in the united states to connect western waterways with the atlantic ocean. How chicago transformed from a midwestern outpost town to. An artificial waterway constructed from 1817 1825 that opened huge transport abilities and led to a waterway that goes to the great lakes. Rivers, streams and tributaries acted as feeders which were allowed to run into the ditch canal. The erie canal was an engineering marvel when it opened in 1825, linking the. The erie canal was a waterway that connected the east coast to the midwest by creating a navigable route between lake erie and the hudson river. In 1836 an enlargement program commenced on the main erie canal system. In the 1850s railroads increased the communitys commercial and industrial activity. Kendalls illustrated history brings into focus the enormous geographic and social impact of this stunning technological feat. Erie canal, historic waterway of the united states, connecting the great lakes with new york city via the hudson river at albany. This is a cute book for children to learn about the erie canal. It is simple enough for them to understand the basics of what the canal is.
The canal connected the great lakes and the atlantic ocean. Push the tiller in the direction you want the stern to go was her. The canal by connecting the great lakes to the hudson river and through this waterway to the atlantic ocean. What was an immediate effect of the completion of the erie. The canal was opened by governor dewitt clinton who is credited as the force behind. Shipwreck identified as rare canal boat smart news. On the morning of october 26, 1825, the first flotilla of canal boats bound for the seaboard left buffalo, starting at the signal of a cannon fired at the erie intake. Devoted to the history of the erie canal in general, as told through images old prints, paintings, maps and postcards, traces recent photographs of the remains of old erie canal sites and structures, and a tour a journey from buffalo in the west to albany in the east by way of a clickable map of the erie canal path. It made farmers to more easily ship grain to eastern markets. The initial construction of the erie canal between 1817 and 1825, and successive campaigns of improvements and enlargements throughout the 19th century, served as a training ground for many of americas most active and productive engineers. The erie canal has been featured in many works of fiction and nonfiction. An artificial waterway constructed from 1817 1825 that opened huge transport abilities and.
1330 692 654 1237 253 390 9 808 1330 194 406 9 1488 457 445 702 1297 530 1454 992 1013 1313 1309 1072 520 651 1483 1491 1152 823 641 525 835 723 690 1479 936 380 1161 993 465 547 1347 1291