Definitely more of a history book as opposed to an engineering book on how the canal was built, but definitely worth the read to realize the impact the canal had on society at the time. The account of the history of the erie canal and the lateral canals, as referenced by roy finch, was written in 1925 in celebration of the onehundredth anniversary of the erie canal. The canals nearly bankrupted the state government, but they allowed ohioans to prosper beginning in the 1830s all the way to the civil war. The canal society of ohio is a volunteer organization, founded in 1961, dedicated to recreation, education, research and preservation related to ohios historic canals. The trail is primarily used for walking, trail running, and road biking and is accessible yearround. Narrow dog to wigan pier by terry darlington, narrowboat dreams. Erie canalway national heritage corridor cycle the erie. Ohio and erie canal by boone triplett arcadia publishing.
Seeing history on the erie canal is now available on amazon. With the exception of stormwater, the hydraulics are no longer functioning in this section of the canal. Along scranton road, in the heart of clevelands flats, youll find the first publicly funded section of towpath trail in the city of cleveland. There were one or two tables in the middle, with some books and maps upon them. Martin morganstein, development director of the museum, and joan h. Completed a decade later, the 309milelong ohio and erie canal connected cleveland, akron, massillon, dover, roscoe, newark, columbus, circleville, chillicothe, waverly, and portsmouth. Reading 1 was compiled from harlan unrau and nick scrattish, historic structures report, cuyahoga valley. Bluebird of brockport, a novel of the erie canal by donna. More erie canalway national heritage corridor works to preserve and share our extraordinary heritage, to promote the corridor as a world class tourism destination, and to foster vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of. 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. A list of selected items about the ohio and erie canal available at the library.
The towpath in cleveland and cuyahoga county canalway partners. Helena iii replica canal boat, learn about local history, and request. Jack gieck, author of a photo album of ohios canal era, 182519. The erie canal and the paradox of progress, 18171862.
The area between the canal and the natural water was the towpath. Each contributor brings his or her expertise to tell the canal s story in three parts. From a fictional account of an educational tour of the erie canal, written in 1852. Any energy you could get was from a waterwheel, a sail on a boat, or mostly muscle power. Inspired by the erie canal in new york, the state of ohio began surveying routes in 1822 for its own grand internal improvement project. 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. Finch was employed with the new york state engineer and surveyor, a. The trail is planned to be 101 miles 163 km long and currently 85 miles 7 km of the trail are complete. The erie canalway trail is a cycling destination for riders of all abilities.
Experience the canal boat play area and bird viewing room. The new york state canal corporation is responsible for developing and overseeing the erie canalway trail. The miami and erie canal towpath is part of three major trail systems. Building the erie canal by linda thompson nook book. And while washingtons canal was a failure, citizens of new york thought they might be able to construct a. Jun 14, 2019 in consideration for receiving permission to participate in the towpath trail snack shack fathers day family fishing fun held fathers day june 16 th 2019, i hereby release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue towpath trail snack, its officers, servants, agents and sponsors hereinafter referred to as releasees from any and all. The canal, stretching from new york to lake erie, opened up the west in the early 1800s. All but one portage path trailhead in summit county provide parking, making for easy access to the trail. The cruise goes through the history of the canal and also takes passengers through lock 18. Weighlock building is located on erie boulevard in syracuse, new york and is the site of the erie canal museum. The trail runs from north to south through cuyahoga, summit, stark, and tuscarawas counties. Originally published in 1995, this glossary was the first to list in one source the terms used to describe the boats, crews, locks, equipment, and canals. Aug 01, 2001 the erie canal museum, founded in 1962, seeks to keep erie canal history and heritage alive. To purchase a copy of the book towpaths, a collection of articles from the canal society of ohio, click here.
Bluebird of brockport, a novel of the erie canal by donna winters. Bestselling author peter bernstein presents the story of the canals construction against the larger tableau of america in the first quartercentury of the 1800s. The erie canal has been featured in many works of fiction and nonfiction. The historic towpath, once traversed by mules pulling packet boats, is a multi use trail used by walkers, runners, cyclists, smowmobilers, equestrians, photographers, and more. Finch was employed with the new york state engineer and surveyor, a defunct governmental agency that managed the canal system from the 1850s to the. The erie canal museum, founded in 1962, seeks to keep erie canal history and heritage alive. The erie canal tells the story of one of americas most ambitious publicworks projects. Kendalls illustrated history brings into focus the enormous geographic and social impact of this stunning technological feat. Young learners will be introduced to an important stage in history when they read building the erie canal. Today over 11 miles of canal are easily paddled by canoe or kayak. Residents named the town after philadelphia, pennsylvania. Travel by boat, bike, car, or train, the canal is just a few hours from nyc, boston, montreal, and toronto.
Following one of the worlds most famous manmade waterways, it spans new york state between albany and buffalo. Before the canal was built, ohio was a sparsely settled wilderness where travel was difficult and getting crops to market was nearly impossible. The 40mile miami and erie trail is the first state recreational trail designated under the ohio trails act. It describes what a trip on a boat would be like on the erie canal. Whether enjoying a leisurely ride from one village to another or spending a. Whether enjoying a leisurely ride from one village to another or spending a week completing the entire 400 miles, the erie canalway trail offers endless. A journey north by englands waterways by steve haywood, maid. Each contributor brings his or her expertise to tell the canals story in three parts. The building of the erie canal, like the construction of the brooklyn bridge and the panama canal, is one of the greatest and most riveting stories of american ingenuity.
The historic towpath, once traversed by mules pulling packet boats, is a multi use trail used by walkers, runners, cyclists, smowmobilers, equestrians, photographers, and. Department of the interior, national park service, 1984. One of the principal reasons for this quick growth was new philadelphias location on the ohio and erie canal, making the community an. Martin morganstein, development director of the museum, and joan.
Erie canal by erie canal museum, martin morganstein and. The full text can be found in the historical documents section. Due to construction along the feeder canal trail, the champlain canalway trail will close between towpath lane and feeder canal towpath road in fort. In its current condition, the canal towpath has the potential of being developed into a scenic hiking trail. Traveling the erie canal, 1836, eyewitness to history 2004.
Parking is free and the number of spaces varies per site, ranging from a handful to 100plus. Due to construction along the feeder canal trail, the champlain. The buckeye trail, signified by the blue blazes is the longest loop hiking trail 1,200 miles in the united states. A small section of the original lock marks the location where governor dewitt clinton of new york and ohio gov. The erie canal is a destination for tourists from all over the world, and has inspired guidebooks dedicated to exploration of the waterway. Building and maintaining the towpath trail is a complicated undertaking. The towpath in cleveland and cuyahoga county canalway.
George washington discussed the possibility of building a canal to connect lake erie with the ohio river as far back as the 1780s, but it was not until 1825 that the ohio legislature voted to fund the project and construction commenced. The rustic towpath led us over the aldrich change bridge, which let horses and mules cross the canal without being unhitched from their bargesone of only two such original crossover bridges left. Aug 25, 2014 inspired by the erie canal in new york, the state of ohio began surveying routes in 1822 for its own grand internal improvement project. 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 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. A natural history guide to the ohio and erie canal towpath trail. The ohio and erie canal cost approximately ten thousand dollars per mile to complete, and the miami and erie canal cost roughly twelve thousand dollars per mile to finish. The canal fulton canalway center is a visitor and information center, located in northwestern stark county along the ohio and erie canals towpath trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. It follows a portion of the erie canal which was active between 1825 and 1917.
An erie canal cruise company, based in herkimer, operates from midmay until midoctober with daily cruises. Nathaniel hawthorne wrote poetically in the canal boat about his trip on the erie canal in 1835. Before the canal was built it took 15 to 45 days to travel from albany to. Stay up to date 4101 fulton parkway, cleveland oh 44144 216. Canalway partners, the city of cleveland, cuyahoga county and the cleveland metroparks are joined together in a project development agreement, each agency bringing their expertise to the effort. The erie canal was the first fast and cheap route through the appalachian mountains. The ohio and erie canal was built by men with picks and shovels and horses and mules. The bluebird of rockport revolves around the wilcox family and their adventures canalling along the erie canal and provides the reader with plenty of suspense and adventure. Personal anecdotes and an engaging narrative describe life on the canal in. If the works listed are available on the web or have a related web page, that fact is noted in the description. This book is filled with photographs, interesting facts, discussion questions, and more, to effectively engage young learners in such a significant retelling of events. This story was based on a song about the erie canal. Contact them directly with questions or for more information. A selection of americas premier railtrailspaperback railtrails pennsylvania, new jersey, and new yorkpaperback.
While short lived, the erie canal system made it possible for ohios farmers and manufacturing to sell their goods on the world market. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. In consideration for receiving permission to participate in the towpath trail snack shack fathers day family fishing fun held fathers day june 16 th 2019, i hereby release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue towpath trail snack, its officers, servants, agents and sponsors hereinafter referred to as releasees from any and all. Ideas have always travelled with trade, and the erie canal disseminated new unsettling beliefs. From the trail, you can make connections to many natural and historic sites, as well as to cuyahoga valley scenic railroad cvsr. Ohio and erie canal local and regional history books. This story originally appeared in the newengland magazine, no. Bestselling author peter bernstein presents the story of the canal s construction against the larger tableau of america in the first quartercentury of the 1800s. Inspired songs that tell the story music and lyrics by foster brown. From downtown buffalo to tonawanda, the erie canal pretty much followed the banks of lake erie and the niagara river. Once formed in 1804, new philadelphia grew quickly, having over one thousand residents in 1846. Ohio and erie canal towpath trail cuyahoga valley national. This selected bibliography is only a brief sampling.
1161 1236 1365 264 1400 1092 1492 1005 203 1416 658 179 1236 1522 1172 1310 1177 937 295 631 136 240 1316 40 881 1047 1308 1318 82