200 Years of the Ohio Canals
Description
How the use of the canals has changed because of the industrial needs of Ohio and how that has also changed the landscape of Northeast Ohio.
You can view an interactive timeline and read the memories of Captain Pearl R. Nye.
With the completion of New York's Erie Canal in 1825 and as the canals opened in Ohio, Ohio became less isolated from the rest of the country. Prices for agricultural produce, wages and canal construction costs rose. For 25 years the canals were the principal means of transportation of both freight and passengers within Ohio.
Credits
Jodie Koranda and Julie Meyer
Sections
Before
What was Ohio like before the canal system was necessary? How did the canal system effect settlement patterns of Native American and White populations.During
As the canals were being used, the Cuyahoga River was also changed to meet the changing demands of industry in Ihio.
What can you see happening to the populations along the Cuyahoga River and the shores of Lake Erie?
After
What does the canal system look like today? You may be wondering what has happened to the area changed to meet the needs of the industrialized Ohio. Many places that once supported the canals have become wastelands. Some are tourist spots where visitors can get a glimpse into the past and ride along the way our ancestors did.