Oct 22, 2012 until the opening of the erie canal in 1825, buffalo was a sleepy town. On this tour, well learn about buffalos heavy hitters from wild erie canal stories to the pan american exposition. Buffalo arcadia publishing local and regional history books. History of the city of buffalo and erie county 1884 edition. Fagant, john, buffalos name grasso, thomas, the erie canals western terminus commercial slip, harbor development and canal district keppel, angela, discovering buffalo, one street at a time ketchum, william, the origin of the name of buffalo. Erie canalway national heritage corridor historical timeline. Leading citizensprimarily physicians and lawyersproposed that an institution of higher learning be established, which led to the founding of the private, nonsectarian university of buffalo. Erie canalway national heritage corridor history and culture. The erie canal by peter spier meet your next favorite book.
The account of the history of the erie canal and the lateral canals, as referenced by roy finch, was written in 1925 in celebration of the onehundredth anniversary of the erie canal. Do you really think you know the history of the buffalo. I had spent hours on the internet trying to get a feel for the route. Until the opening of the erie canal in 1825, buffalo was a sleepy town. Read before the buffalo historical society, april 7, 1863 digitized by. Boasting beautiful views of lake erie, the park is home to a 1,000 slip marina, a restaurant, boat launches, personal watercraft launches, fish cleaning station, restrooms, and a beach for strolling and sunbathing. Access to an abundant supply of fresh water led to a thriving farming industry, provided a means of transportation, and powered mills and factories. It is simple enough for them to understand the basics of what the canal is all about. Even president thomas jefferson, usually ahead of his time, believed that it could not be built for at least a century, and yet, the erie canal came to be just as its planners had thought it would. Soon after the completion of the erie canal in 1825, business on the canal increased greatly. Built between 1817 and 1825, the original erie canal traversed 363 miles from albany to buffalo. On june 28, buffalo artist paul lloyd sargent loaded his 19foot, openhulled boat with a trunk full of toxic waste and set off from silo city for a twoweek adventure along the historic erie canal. Aug 10, 2015 thomas dee talked about the history of the erie canal and its impact on the city of buffalo, new york.
Hear the story of the erie canal, buffalos history as the largest grain port in the world, and experience the nations largest collection of standing grain elevators from just a few feet away. Incomparable beauty and the final resting place of some of western new yorks most notable citizens, including u. This is an excellent introductory history of the erie canal. Lucky for us, living in buffalo means that we have quite a. It describes what a trip on a boat would be like on the erie canal. History and culture erie canalway national heritage corridor. The canal society of new york state was formed in buffalo in 1956 at the annual meeting of the new york state historical association. Report video issue javascript must be enabled in order to access cspan videos. On october 25, 1825, the entire length of the erie canal was complete.
As one of the largest public works projects in american history, the erie canal also inspired a nationwide transportation revolution. For the first time in the history of the united states, a cheap, fast route ran through the appalachians, the mountains that had so effectively divided the. This is a cute book for children to learn about the erie canal. History of the canal system of the state of new york. Originally, it ran 363 miles 584 km from the hudson river in albany to lake erie in buffalo. An erie canal cruise company, based in herkimer, operates from midmay until midoctober with daily cruises. Adding to the hustle and bustle of the citys busy new harbor was joseph darts local invention of the grain elevator. It was built to create a navigable water route from new york city and the atlantic ocean to the great lakes. A geographical voyage across upstate new york along the 363 miles from albany to buffalo 5. Construction began in 1817 and was completed in 1825. Constructed from 18171825, this historic canal not only transformed ny state into a prosperous region, but it led to significant developments throughout other.
It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in north america. The subject erie county in 1620 from 1620 to 1655 the iroquois from 1655 to 1679 french dominion english dominion from 1783 to 1788 the council from 1783 to 1788 from 1788 to 1797 survey and settlement from 1802 to 1807 reorganization pioneers and indians from 1808 to the war the campaign of 1812 the campaign of. The erie canal, new york state, and the united states. The canal put new york on the map as the empire statethe leader in population, industry, and economic strength. Peter bernsteins wedding of the waters is an excellent history of the erie canal, a great technological development in the early 1800s. The erie canal and the paradox of progress, 18171862. Stand where theodore roosevelt took the oath of office. Originating around 1789 as a small trading community inhabited by the neutral nation near the mouth of buffalo creek, the city, then a town, grew quickly after the opening of the erie canal in 1825, with the city at its western terminus. When the canal opened in 1825, it unlocked the western interior for trade and settlement, and made new york city the nations most powerful commercial center. From downtown buffalo to tonawanda, the erie canal pretty much followed the banks of lake erie and the niagara river. A history of canal navigation from ancient china to modern times 4. President millard fillmore 18001874 returned to buffalo after his political career and devoted himself to civic efforts. Come travel along the waterways that made buffalo one of the biggest and richest cities in the world. A fleet of boats, led by governor dewitt clinton aboard the seneca chief sailed from buffalo to new york city in record timejust ten days.
Take a ride on this oneofakind canal boat near buffalo. Canalside buffalo buffalo waterfront visit buffalo niagara. River cruises in buffalo, ny buffalo river history tours. Enjoy beautiful scenery, fascinating history, and a oneofakind cycling experience on this fully supported eightday ride across new york between buffalo and albany. After years of hard campaigning, his tireless efforts promoting the concept of the erie canal finally paid off and on july 4, 1817 construction began at rome, ny. Whittemore, carving the harbor that built buffalo essay.
It ran 363 miles across the state from albany to buffalo and had 83 locks. Library of congress prints and photographs division, detroit publishing company photograph collection. Lucky for us, living in buffalo means that we have quite a few fascinating canal boat rides within arms reach. Erie canalway national heritage corridor history and. Erie canal, historic waterway of the united states, connecting the great lakes with. Towns along the canal buffalo, rochester and syracuse boomed. All public programs and events from now until further notice are also. The proposals are by 12 authors from the ub school of architecture and planning, cornell university and columbia university. Ny states engineering marvel in the early 19th century, albany, ny was a key part of one of our countrys greatest engineering marvels the erie canal. Please check back soon to learn more about buffalo and its history.
Listed here are fillmorerelated books and manuscripts in our library, including items pertaining to his family. This story was based on a song about the erie canal. History of the city of buffalo and erie county 1884. Finch was employed with the new york state engineer and surveyor, a defunct governmental agency that managed the canal system from the 1850s to the.
The construction of the erie canal in 1925 etabilshed an allwater passage from the great lakes. The history ride brings the citys past to life through unforgettable stories, songs, humor, and local insight. Wander through a fort that played a pivotal role in the french and indian war. Along the way, learn about the people, places, and events that shaped the erie canal and its vital role in american. The building of the erie canal, like the construction of the.
The erie canal is a beautifully illustrated picture book that my children, now adults, enjoyed. The boat carried mules and people from albany to buffalo. By 1896 lengthened chambers let most erie canal locks pass two boats through in tandem. The history of the postrevolutionary war conflict between the united states and england which led to the war of 1812 6. A very thorough guide to the erie canal all the way from buffalo to albany, from the. Western new yorks rich history is told at heritage sites throughout the region. The following erie canalrelated images were created from original documents and books in the collections of the new york state library unless otherwise noted.
Learn about the habits, sights and sounds of the central wharf and about its sudden destruction. Overhead aqueducts were used to allow streams to cross the canal. Tom dee talked about the history of the erie canal and its impact on the city of buffalo, new york. Thomas dee talked about the history of the erie canal and its impact on the city of buffalo, new york. Well also learn about some of buffalos lesserknown aspects including the citys significance to. The erie canal transformed new york city into americas commercial capital. The expanding fleet of barges, frequently congested the waterways terminating at buffalo. It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public. Instigator behind emerald beach at the erie basin marina. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers in two volumes, published by d. The canal consisted of 85 locks to manage a 500 foot 150 meter rise in elevation from the hudson river to buffalo. As a preventative measure in light of recent developments regarding the coronavirus covid19, the museum, research library, and museum shop will be physically closed effective immediately until further notice.
The second book is volume 1 of two of the history of the city of buffalo and erie county. Historical timeline erie canalway national heritage corridor. Buffalo and erie county historical society, c1964 20 p. One of the most amazing things about the historic erie canal is how there are so many ways for us to enjoy the different locks after all these years. Chemung, chenango, crooked lake, oneida lake, and genesee valley canals abandoned, late 1870s. Just got back from riding the canal from buffalo to albany. Situated between new york and the western states, buffalo was an important transportation center in the days of the erie canal. Definitely more of a history book as opposed to an engineering book on how the canal was built, but definitely worth the read to realize the impact the canal had on society at the time.
Mar 03, 2020 from downtown buffalo to tonawanda, the erie canal pretty much followed the banks of lake erie and the niagara river. Envisioned as a recreation of the western terminus of the erie canal, canalside is situated on the buffalo river, where the area was historically home to the seneca people. Join us for a 90minute narrated buffalo river history tour. Canalside, formerly known as canal side and erie canal harbor, is a masterplanned neighborhood and festival marketplace within the inner harbor of buffalo, new york. The canal was 363 miles 584 kilometers long, 40 feet 12 m wide, and 4 feet deep 1. Cofounder powder keg festival that built the worlds largest ice maze guinness book of world records. The cruise goes through the history of the canal and also takes passengers through lock 18. Taking advantage of the mohawk river gap in the appalachian mountains, the erie canal, 363 miles 584 km long, was the first canal in the united states to connect western waterways with the atlantic ocean. The area between the canal and the natural water was the towpath. Buffalo is the county seat of erie county, and the second most populous city in the u. Come travel along the waterways that made buffalo one of the biggest and richest cities. The erie canal is a canal in new york, united states that is part of the eastwest, crossstate route of the new york state canal system formerly known as the new york state barge canal. The buffalo history museum takes the health of our staff, volunteers, guests, and community as top priority.
We are on the lookout for news and events in buffalo. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific canal location and its history as well as information on lodging, museums, restaurants, wineries. By linking buffalo to new york city, the waterway decreased freight costs. The book, rich with scores of photos, drawings, maps, floor plans, charts, history and anecdotes, also presents proposed projects for adaptive reuse of the abandoned elevators that still stand on the buffalo waterfront. To open the pdf, click on the link under the image or in the citation column.
Volume shows via maps and photographs along with written descriptions the present and former locations of canals that were and are situated in the buffalo, new york area. Our history university at buffalo school of medicine and. I used the ptny, cycle the erie canal, crazy guy on a bike and erie canal bike tours websites to get information. Envisioned as a recreation of the western terminus of the erie canal, canalside is situated on the buffalo river, where the area was historically home to the seneca people in the early 20th century, the predominantly italian.
Located at the western terminus of the canal and considered the gateway to the west, the port city of buffalo is both a testament to and beneficiary of the canals power. A fleet of boats, led by governor dewitt clinton aboard the seneca chief sailed from buffalo to new. The success of the erie canal set off a burst of canal building throughout the country. The erie canal museum, founded in 1962, seeks to keep erie canal history and heritage alive. The erie canal is a destination for tourists from all over the world, and has inspired guidebooks dedicated to exploration of the waterway. Join cyclists from across the country and around the world for the 18th annual cycle the erie canal bike tour. Believing the erie canal to be a porkbarrel project that would only benefit upstate towns, many of new york city. The school was established when buffalo was a boomtown on the erie canal and the gateway to the west. Map showing slips and adjuncts of the erie canal at buffalo from. In addition the park is adjacent to the popular tifft nature preserve. Today the erie canal stands as an indelible symbol of the ingenuity and ambition of americans.