What is Erie Canal?
1.
Erie Canal, noun (United States/North American Transportation History) --
In the state capital of New York State; Albany, New York -- on April 17, 1816 the New York Legislature granted $7 million for the construction of a canal linking Albany, New York to Buffalo, New York.
This project passed before many in National government with hard persuasion.
Many historians credit the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, for the project's backing in 1805 to use surplus federal revenue to renovate the country's road system.
Latter, in the year 1819 A.D., the governor of New York State, De Witt Clinton announced in Rome, New York that the start and connection of the Great Lakes to the New York Harbor to the Atlantic Ocean would commence.
This connection/water pathway would be named the Erie Canal.
This newly ambitious project would be some 500 miles when completed.
It was the third canal in the nation to be undertaken.
Earlier American canals were created near Boston and Charleston, South Carolina, but each canal measured only about 20 miles in length.
The Erie Canal would be the first to be entirely constructed by American civil engineers.
The other two canals were designed by British engineers.
On October 22, 1819 the first boat to travel the Erie Canal made its way from Rome, New York to Utica, New York - a mere distance of almost 15 miles.
The canal was linked in sections during construction.
For example, on October 27, 1822 Rochester to Albany, New York were linked to the existing parts of the canal with its 280 mile connection.
On October 25, 1825 the Erie Canal's completion linked from Lake Erie to New York City via the Hudson River.
The section of this canal measured 363 miles long and incorporated 83 locks that allowed ships/water vessels to cross unequal water levels by closing off sections of the Erie Canal by changing levels of water to accomodate its travelers.
Many of the vessels were powered by early shipping technology including some vessels being pulled/towed by donkey/horse along the walking path near the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal was the passage way to New York State's many cities and villages.
Today, the Erie Canal does not exist in its entirety. It's original path can be traced along Interstate 90 from New York City; Albany; Utica; Syracuse; Rochester to Buffalo, New York and leading into Erie, Pennsylvania.
Many New York State parks along the original route commemorate the Erie Canal's history as it existed in the 19th century.
In Syracuse, New York -- the old Erie Canal has a museum in its downtown area commemorating the canal and its history complete with a like barge that traveled the route.
At De Witt, New York -- a portion of the canal in its original form can be seen and enjoyed in the Erie Canal State Park.
