The Erie Canal

1. The Erie Canal 1817-1825

2. What Was The Erie Canal? • The Erie Canal was form a transportation created to open up transport between towns on the lake and New York City • It was 363 miles long, 40 ft wide, 4 ft deep, and was made with a cement including a special limestone and a sand mixture that hardened underwater. • The success of the Erie Canal encouraged other areas to build more canals.

3. Where was the Erie Canal? • The Erie Canal ran from Albany, New York to Buffalo, New York. • Albany was located on the Hudson River and Buffalo was on Lake Erie; therefore, it opened up transport all throughout New York. When did they build the Erie Canal? • The idea of the Erie Canal was proposed in 1808. • The canal was not actually started until 1817 and totally finished in 1825.

4. How was the canal built? • The canal was constructed with 18 aqueducts and about 83 locks with a towpath along the bank of the canal that was 10 feet wide. These were built to let horses or mules walk that pulled the boats and their driver. (The drivers were usually a young boy)

5. Who built the Erie Canal? • The idea of the canal was proposed by Dewitt Clinton.(governor of New York) • The actual builders of the canal were many local laborers and also many Irish immigrants.

6. Summary The Erie Canal was a form of transportation used to transport cargo throughout New York. It was built from 1817 to 1825. It ran from Buffalo New York to Albany New York. It was built with 18 aqueducts, 83 locks, and a special limestone made to harden under water. It was purposed by Dewitt Clinton and built by built by many local laborers and Irish immigrants.