The New York State Canal Corporation is the proud steward of this great, historic 524-mile waterway, a legacy that was born more than 175 years ago. The tradition of navigation on New York's Canals continues uninterrupted, and the resurgence of development in the historic communities begins again, as it did in the mid-1800s. This website will provide you with useful information to plan your visit to the New York State Canal System and the communities located within its Corridor
Britain’s inland waterways (2,000 miles (3,220km) of canals and rivers, which is about half of all the inland navigations in Britain), are extraordinarily diverse, ranging from man-made canals like the Grand Union and Leeds & Liverpool to navigable rivers like the Severn and Trent. Each has its own unique history and special characteristics.
Located in Montréal, the Lachine Canal stretches 14.5 km from the Old Port to Lake Saint-Louis. Already in the planning stages during the French Regime, it would only open to shipping in 1825. Tens of thousands of ships took this route before the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway led to its closing in 1970.
The Oswego River Basin is located in Central New York. It encompasses the Erie Canal from Macedon to Rome and the Cayuga-Seneca and Oswego Canals. It drains a total area of 5,122 square miles into Lake Ontario. The area of the basin is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
The Rideau Canal is a chain of beautiful lakes, rivers and canals winding 202 km from Kingston, at the head of Lake Ontario, to Ottawa, Canada's capital city. One of Canada's historic canals, the Rideau is maintained and operated by Parks Canada to preserve and present the canal's natural and historic features, as well as to provide a navigable channel for boaters.
Meandering 386 km across Ontario, Canada, the Trent-Severn Waterway links the Bay of Quinte with Georgian Bay. Not only does it span a wide and varied geographic area, it also covers a sweep of history, from the time of Native occupation, through its developmental role in the lumbering and agriculture of the region, to its recreational use today. The Peterborough Lift Lock, shown here, is a National Historic Site that celebrated its’ 100th Anniversary in 2004.
In Scotland the 137-mile (220km) canal network, originally built between 1768 and 1822, includes the Caledonian, Crinan, Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals. Although small in number, they are some of the most famous and historic in Great Britain. In recent years British Waterways Scotland has reversed years of neglect and revitalised Scotland?s canals transforming them into important national assets. More and more Scots and visitors to Scotland are discovering that canals are the perfect way of exploring Scotland?s wonderful countryside.
Traveling on the canals and rivers of Europe is an ideal way to visit as as many as 14 countries and experience their culture and customs of life. Cities, villages and the countryside are often very accessible by natural or man-made waterways. Visit our web page at http://www.eurocanals.com/
Ohio's 1000-mile network of navigable canals, constructed between 1825 and 1847, provided a system of economical transportation where none had previously existed. The young state with its isolated frontier economy was transformed almost overnight. The canals opened many markets for its agriculture and industrial products, and attracted thousands of immigrants to the state. Today only a few of the deep excavations, the high earthen embankments and the massive structures of timber and cut stone are left to remind us of our debt to those who built Ohio's first transportation system.
The Canal Society of New Jersey is a non-profit organization formed in 1969 to:
The American Canal Society is dedicated to Historic Canal Research, Preservation, Restoration, and Parks. The society was formed in 1972 to promote the wise use of America's many historic canal resources through research, preservation, restoration, recreation, and parks. The society acts as a national clearing house of canal information and co-operates with local, state, and international canal societies, groups, and individuals to identify historic canal resources, to publicize canal history, activities, activities, and problems, and to take action on threatened canals and sites
Built in 1845 as a source of power, water and transportation, the Augusta Canal
is the only intact industrial canal in the American South in continuous use.
During the Civil War it was the site of the Confederate State of America
Powderworks complex. Deepened and widened in the 1870s, the canal brought an
industrial boom to the city, especially in textile manufacturing. In 1975 the
Canal
and its mills were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and declared National Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1996 the United States
Congress designated the Augusta Canal and nearby land a National Heritage Area.
The forty-five mile long Blackstone Canal was opened in 1828 connecting Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island. As a result, Worcester quickly become the second largest city in Massachusetts and has retained this status ever since. The canal also greatly improved transportation within the Blackstone River Valley allowing the development and growth of inland industrial sites in the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. The canal ceased operation in 1848 after the opening of the Boston and Worcester Railroad and the parallel Providence and Worcester Railroad.
The Canal Society of New York State brings together canal enthusiasts from across the state, to learn about the history, development and on-going activities associated with the numerous canal systems found throughout the state. Its activities include: the protection of historic canal sites, and features; support for the revitalization of canals, the development of canal ports, recreational facilities, canal trails and other related amenities, and; the presentation or interpretation of canal history and related topics.
The World Canals Conference is the opportunity to bring hundreds of canal enthusiasts, professionals and scholars from around the world, together to learn about a variety of topics related to canals, including the protection of historic canals or features, revitalization of canal systems, harbour sites, canal trails and amenities; the presentation or interpretation of canals and corridors–their history and various elements; canals as a means to promote tourism, spur economic development and urban renewal.
IWI brings together people and organisations who support the conservation, use, development and proper management of inland waterways worldwide. It aims to raise public awareness of the benefits of using waterways for a wide range of activities, from inland shipping to pleasure cruising, towpath walking and other recreational uses. It also promotes restoration, where appropriate, of waterways which have become derelict. Its membership includes leading navigation authorities, as well as voluntary bodies, museums and commercial companies. Individual members include both users and experts in the various disciplines. All have a keen interest in both the history and the modern significance of inland waterways for commercial carrying and leisure use. Today the membership covers 15 countries from around the world.
Located in the Town of Colonie, within site of busy Alt. Route 7.
Recently cared for, i.e. excavated; "A wetland enhancement and
stabalization project of the conservation advisory council". This one
has been fenced off on three sides to prevent careless visitors from
getting dangerously close.
See this and other slides at this web site.
Welcome! This is an on-going project in which you are invited to participate by submitting copies of your Erie Canal family information to share with other interested visitors. We will be proud to display your 19th Century data here, on your behalf, and include all approriate credits, links, and contact information.
A Web Magazine Dedicated to Transportation News, Business & Policy in the Empire State
