The Impact of Canals on the Development of 19th-Century America

It’s almost 200 years since the opening of the Erie Canal, a feat of engineering never before seen in North America that stretched 363 miles across upstate New York from Buffalo in the west to Albany in the east.  By expediting the transport of goods, the canal transformed New York City, turning it into a major trading center and America’s main seaport.  As well as supporting the commercial transportation of grain, coal and lumber, canals throughout the US improved the quality of the surrounding land, encouraged migration, and even enabled the spread of ideas. While the man-made canals followed rivers, incorporated lakes and connected seaports, the network of inland waterways also induced railroad construction, with trains supplementing the transportations capabilities of the canals before replacing them along most routes. This was not before the construction of 3,000 miles of engineered channels during the Canal Era had a significant impact on the development of America by fueling industrial growth and expansion westwards.

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