The Erie Canal carried more than cargo. It was the Internet of its day, carrying people and ideas and bringing the young nation together. Built with bold vision, ingenuity, can-do spirit, and hard work, the canal helped to forge our national identity. Here, you can use the Internet of our day to learn all about the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the system of canals that still tie us together.
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.
The canal put New York on the map as the Empire State—the leader in population, industry, and economic strength. It transformed New York City into the nation's principal seaport and opened the interior of North America to settlement. Equally important, the Erie Canal became a central element forging our national identity. Built with a combination of vision, determination, ingenuity, and hard work, the Erie Canal solidified these central elements of our American character.
Teachers will find curriculum materials and other resources for teaching HISTORY and STEM related to the Erie Canal. The site includes access to virtual tours, lesson plans, and document-based questions, glossaries, timelines, and information about Native Americans, science, geography, and technological innovations.
