When was the Erie Canal completed?

The Erie Canal is a canal in New York that is part of the east-west, cross-state route of the New York State Canal System (formerly known as the New York State Barge Canal). Originally it ran about 363 miles (584 km) from Albany, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, at Lake Erie. It was built to create a navigable water route from New York City and the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. First proposed in 1807, its construction began in 1817. The canal has 36 locks and an elevation differential of about 565 feet (172 m). It opened on October 26, 1825.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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21 Comments

Helga U. Williams

Unless you really know the date, this one was challenging. I thought it was completed later than the date I picked. Good question and educational narrative! 👍

Sheldon Burnston

In the 1820 Census. the biggest city in the US was Philadelphia, followed by Boston and then New York City. The Canal was opened in 1825, and by the 1830 Census, New York had jumped to the #1 city in the US and has stayed there ever since. That's how important it was in the era before railroads and trucks.

vonlora

know it is coming up on 200 years

Janet Jones Newman

I grew up in North Tonawanda, NY, right between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Our street followed the Erie Canal along until it ended at the Niagara River, which goes over Niagara Falls. It was a great place to grow up, surrounded by so much water!

Deborah Gabriel

Earlier than I thought.

Richard G Schwartz

That's why it's called The Empire State.

Teri Gallagan-Horning

OOPS! I forgot the canal ran through New York before it was started & ran through Ohio! The canal system in Ohio ran about 1000 miles connecting the Ohio River to Lake Erie. That canal system was known as the Ohio & Erie where as New York's was just Erie.