While we don’t consider it a vital part of U.S. infrastructure now, the opening of the Erie Canal on Oct. 26, 1825, transformed the economies and landscapes of communities from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. The canal spurred such growth that it’s now considered by historians to be a major reason for the country’s ascent to world power status.
The project had many naysayers. The canal would run from from the Hudson River near Albany, New York to Buffalo on Lake Erie, a span of 339 miles, making it one of the largest canals in the world. Plus, the design required expensive locks because Lake Erie was hundreds of feet above sea level. It was a big lift for a smaller, developing regional power like the U.S.
But eventually, construction kicked off. Workers dug by hand, using picks, shovels, and occasionally a bit of gunpowder.
As predicted by some of its proponents, its construction cemented the future of New York City as the country’s top seaport and grew the populations of cities in upstate New York exponentially.
While obsolete, it’s Erie Canal is still in use today by anglers and recreational boaters. Along much of its length the speed limit is just five miles per hour, allowing for a more meandering, relaxing ride.
For more on the canal, you can visit History.com and Smithsonian Magazine.
