Popularly known as “Clinton’s Folly,” the eight-year construction project was the vision of New York Governor DeWitt Clinton. ... Eight days later, Clinton ceremoniously emptied the water into the Atlantic Ocean to marry the waters as a symbol of the importance of this canal.
Who opened the Erie Canal?
In 1825, Governor Dewitt Clinton officially opened the Erie Canal as he sailed the packet boat Seneca Chief along the Canal from Buffalo to Albany.
How did Governor Clinton celebrate the canal’s completion?
The Erie canal was completed on October 26, 1825. Its completion was toasted as the “Great Celebration”. Governor Clinton began his trip down the canal, with a cannon salute . As part of the celebration, cannons were placed along the length of the canal within earshot of each other.
When did DeWitt Clinton build the Erie Canal?
The Erie Canal opened on October 26, 1825 . A fleet of boats, led by Governor Dewitt Clinton aboard the Seneca Chief sailed from Buffalo to New York City in record time—just ten days. The canal transformed New York City into the commercial capital it remains today.
What was the name of the ceremony when DeWitt Clinton officially marked the completion of the Erie Canal?
Clinton then ceremonially poured Lake Erie water into New York Harbor to mark the “Wedding of the Waters” .
What was one change as a result of the Erie Canal now?
The Erie Canal helped to launch the consumer economy.
In addition to providing an economic boost by allowing the transport of goods at one-tenth the previous cost in less than half the previous time, the Erie Canal led to a transformation of the American economy as a whole .
What president was responsible for the Erie Canal?
In 1817 Congress did pass an act providing for the funding of a canal for New York but President James Madison , a Jeffersonian Democrat, vetoed the bill.
How deep is the Erie Canal today?
| JUST THE FACTS | Canal dimensions, 1862 Enlarged Erie 7 ft deep x 70 ft wide; lock 110 ft long | Canal dimensions, 1918- present Erie Barge Canal 12-23 ft deep x 120-200 ft wide; locks 310 ft long | Cost to build $7,143,789 | Return on Investment 10 years |
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Does Erie Canal still exist?
Nearly 200 years old and still going strong. New York’s canal system has been in continuous operation since 1825 , longer than any other constructed transportation system on the North American continent. Over the years, it has been enlarged three times to accommodate larger boats and more traffic.
Is the Erie Canal man made?
Built between 1817 and 1825 , the original Erie Canal traversed 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo. It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in North America.
What did DeWitt Clinton want?
He strongly advocated building a canal through upstate New York to connect the east with the Midwest , and became such a strong supporter of the plan that his opponents called it “Clinton’s Ditch”.
How many Irish died building the Erie Canal?
While there are no official records of immigrant deaths, somewhere between 8,000 and 30,000 are believed to have perished in the building of the New Basin Canal, many of whom are buried in unmarked graves in the levee and roadway fill beside the canal.
How did they dig the Erie Canal?
Instead, the thickly forested land was cleared and the 40-foot wide canal was dug and the locks were constructed by the raw manpower of an estimated 50,000 laborers , including a large contingent of recently arrived Irish immigrants.
Why was travel on the Erie Canal so popular?
The completion in 1825 of the Erie Canal (below), connecting Lake Erie with the Hudson River, was an event of major importance in Michigan history because it greatly facilitated the transportation of passengers and freight between the eastern seaboard and Michigan ports .
Does the Erie Canal freeze?
Because it was so shallow, the Canal could freeze very quickly , trapping boats in ice. But the frozen canal also created many opportunities for recreation, such as ice skating at the widewaters or the aqueduct.
How long would it take to move material before the Erie Canal was finished?
Goods and people were transported quickly along the canal – freight sped along the canal at about 55 miles per 24 hour period, but express passenger service moved through at 100 miles per 24 hour period, so a trip from New York City to Buffalo via the Erie Canal would only have taken about four days .
