The Erie Canal: Then and Now
In the early 1800s, the United States was growing rapidly. Because the northeastern states were becoming crowded, pioneers from New England, eastern New York, and other states journeyed west. Land in the West was cheap and abundant. The soil was good for growing crops. But traveling to Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other areas by land was not as easy as it is today. There were no roads, highways, or trains along the route.
Lack of adequate transportation led to another problem. Shipping cargo across the state of New York was expensive and time-consuming.
But DeWitt Clinton, New York City's mayor, had a plan. He wanted to move people across the country as quickly and cheaply as possible. He also wanted to increase trade and lower shipping prices.
“Clinton's Ditch”
Clinton's plan was to build a canal across New York, linking Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. This would connect the eastern part of New York with the midwest via the Great Lakes. The canal would help move people to the West and goods to the East more cheaply and easily. It was to be designed for use by horse-drawn barges for freight and packet boats for passengers.
Many people thought Clinton was foolish. They called his idea “Clinton's Ditch.” Building a canal that was 363 miles long seemed impossible. A 500-foot elevation difference would require the construction of 83 lift locks to make the canal navigable. And, such a project would take a lot of time and money.
Clinton ignored his doubters. On July 4, 1817, work on the Erie Canal began. Hundreds of workers began digging the canal by hand. The first section was completed in 1819. It was 15 miles long. It linked the town of Rome to Utica.
Digging continued until the canal was finished in 1825. The grand opening was held in New York City. To celebrate, Clinton traveled from Buffalo to New York City along the Erie Canal and then the Hudson River. His boat, Seneca Chief, arrived in New York City on November 4, carrying a container of water taken from Lake Erie. Clinton poured the water into the Atlantic Ocean to symbolize the union of two great bodies of water.
From “Clinton's Ditch” to First Superhighway
The Erie Canal soon became America's first superhighway. Thousands of travelers boarded packet boats and headed west.
The canal made boomtowns out of towns along its banks. It carried settlers to the Midwest where they built towns. And, it increased trade through the nation by opening markets in the East and encouraging movement westward. There was so much traffic on the Erie Canal that several times workers had to make it wider. Because of the Erie Canal's success, New York City's harbor became the busiest seaport in the United States and New York became America's largest and most prosperous city.
A Tourist Attraction
For many years, the Erie Canal was the main route to the West. But, by the 1850s the Erie Canal was no longer as important. Railroads began hauling cargo and people across the country much faster.
Today, the Erie Canal is mainly a tourist attraction, and a boat owner's paradise. People come from miles around to experience this inspirational waterway. Boating, biking, shopping, and tours are recreational activities offered along its banks.