Kendalls illustrated history brings into focus the enormous geographic and social impact of this stunning technological feat. The erie canal is a destination for tourists from all over the world, and has inspired guidebooks dedicated to exploration of the waterway. The erie canal, which opened between 1821 and 1825, represents one of the best examples of canal construction aimed at extending inland transport systems, of foremost importance in the development of the united states. Ohio and erie canal arcadia publishing history books. The erie canal has been a major focus of my life since 2006. An erie canal cruise company, based in herkimer, operates from midmay until midoctober with daily cruises. The british canal system of water transport played a vital role in the united kingdoms industrial revolution at a time when roads were only just emerging from the medieval mud and long trains of packhorses were the only means of mass transit by road of raw materials and finished products.
The erie canal had an enormous impact on new york and america in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and its construction and history was recorded in books, pamphlets and magazine articles. And while washingtons canal was a failure, citizens of new york thought they might be able to construct a. Erie canal erie canal from commercial artery to national symbol. The erie canal has been featured in many works of fiction and nonfiction.
I want to get him something on the erie canal, but i havent been able to tell if theres anything good out there. You may wish to prompt questions related to the geography of and trade along the erie canal to help students build on their prior knowledge that was built in the. The erie canal unit study resources and worksheets erie. It played a key role in both the industrial revolution and the westward expansion of the country. My dad is a civil engineer who enjoys reading the odd popular history book. Buffalo and erie county historical society, c1964 20 p. The canal, 363 miles 584 km long, was the first canal in the united states to connect western waterways with the atlantic ocean. New york has long been a state of big ideas and the kind of cando spirit that turns them into reality. Built between 1817 and 1825, the original erie canal traversed 363 miles from albany to buffalo. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. Geography, human geography, physical geography, social studies, u. Canals connecting the lake erie to the ohio river ohio history central. History and culture erie canalway national heritage corridor. The building of the erie canal, like the construction of the brooklyn bridge and.
Historical timeline erie canalway national heritage corridor. The erie canal was an exciting and pivotal time in u. The new york geographic alliance asked me to plan a very exciting program for the summer of 2007 called the grand canal experience 2007. Home learn history and culture historical timeline. The canal was an instant commercial and financial success. This unit the erie canal and you has 65 pages of information and illustratio.
From the first days of the expansion of the british colonies from the coast of north america into the heartland of the continent, a recurring. Locks were built to overcome the 571ft 174m difference between the level of the river and that of lake erie. I love peter spiers picture books, and this is no exception. History of the erie canal the golden eagle string band opening in 1825 and linking lake erie to new york city by way of the hudson river, the erie canal was a major force in the commercial life of new york state, creating many jobs as well as rich folklore. Erie canal from commercial artery to national symbol. By 1896 lengthened chambers let most erie canal locks pass two boats through in tandem.
Learn more about the canal, including its construction. As one of the largest public works projects in american history, the erie canal also inspired a nationwide transportation revolution. On october 25, 1825, the entire length of the erie canal was complete. 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. Named for the lake and the native american erie people who lived in the area until the mid17th century, erie is the fourthlargest city in pennsylvania, as well as the largest city in northwestern pennsylvania, with a population of 101,786 at the 2010 census. For thousands of years, humans have modified the physical environment by clearing land for agriculture or damming streams to store and divert water. April 2005 the construction of the erie canal came about for political as well as economic reasons. Game fill in map lakes, rivers and canals ohio history central. Prior to the construction of the erie canal, most of the united states population remained pinned between the atlantic ocean to the east and the appalachian mountains to the west. Chemung, chenango, crooked lake, oneida lake, and genesee valley. Describes the building of the erie canal and discusses its impact on the united states.
Bestselling author peter bernstein presents the story of the canals construction against the larger tableau of america in the first quartercentury of the 1800s. Its a huge list of living books about american history divided into categories so you can use it easily. The erie canal is a 363mile waterway that connects the great lakes with the atlantic ocean via the hudson river in upstate new york. He weaves a masterful story including history, politics, geography, science. Eeree is a city on the south shore of lake erie and the county seat of erie county, pennsylvania, united states. The erie canal, new york state, and the united states. It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public. A history of the erie canals construction and subsequent influence on american geography profiles the nation in the first quartercentury of the 1800s, demonstrating how the canals creation. Erie canal, new york, 1829 the geography of transport. With its three branch canals it forms the new york state canal. Students interact with maps to analyze the geography of the new york region and.
Erie canal, historic waterway of the united states, connecting the great lakes with new york city via the hudson river at albany. If the works listed are available on the web or have a related web page, that fact is noted in the description. Distribute the worksheet the erie canal and population in new york and tell. Begun in 1817 and completed in 1825, the erie canal. We invited teachers from all across the state to participate in a weeklong geography institute along the eries path. Maps and timelines are scattered throughout the text, and a diagram explaining how locks work is also included. The new york state canal system is not only rich in history, but also culture.
A natural extension of the acclaimed original series, the second series returns its focus to the united states with. As we walk along the road as we walk along the road. It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in north america. The erie canal tells the story of one of americas most ambitious publicworks projects. The uk was the first country to develop a nationwide canal network. Many immigrants worked long and hard on clintons ditch to create this magnificent waterway. This book is filled with photographs, interesting facts, discussion questions, and more, to effectively engage young learners in such a significant retelling of events. Erie canal lesson plan intended audiencegrade level. Folklore, songs and speech lingo emerged from those individuals working along the canal.
Visit the new york state canal corporation website. The erie canal unit study resources and worksheets. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the erie canal webquest print page. New york city was the first capital of the united states after the constitution was ratified in 1788. A history of the erie canals construction and subsequent influence on american geography profiles the nation in the first quartercentury of the. The idea of building a canal from the east coast to the interior of north america was proposed by george washington, who actually attempted such a thing in the 1790s. Inspired by the erie canal in new york, the state of ohio began surveying routes in 1822 for its own grand internal improvement project. Overhead aqueducts were used to allow streams to cross the canal. The canal was 363 miles 584 kilometers long, 40 feet 12 m wide, and 4 feet deep 1. The back of the book includes a short bibliography and words and music to low bridge, everybody down. The canal, stretching from new york to lake erie, opened up the west in the early 1800s. Harout khachatryan maps, geography, history, politics. The erie canal documentary geographic history youtube. Teaching the erie canal with literature and a group projectthis lesson goes perfectly with new york state social studies standards on the erie canal or any class that learns about canals in their transportation unit.
The erie canal museum, founded in 1962, seeks to keep erie canal history and heritage alive. Building the erie canal by linda thompson nook book. Erie canal, historic waterway of the united states, connecting the great lakes with. The present erie canal rises 566 feet from the hudson river to lake erie through 35 locks. Built between 1817 and 1825, the original erie canal traversed 363 miles from albany to. Hed be especially interested in a volume that had a lot of maps, technical explanations, etc. Credit for this entrepreneurial attitude is due, in part, to a nationallysignificant treasure. Cregg, volunteer guide and researcher at the museum, have carefully selected from the museums extensive collection over two hundred images that depict life on the erie canal.
Young learners will be introduced to an important stage in history when they read building the erie canal. The erie canal is the place where the young united states, and its religiosity, ceased looking to the east and the past europe and new england and began looking west and to the future. Large selection and many more categories to choose from. He weaves a masterful story including history, politics, geography, science and economics. Dewitt clinton, who in 1815 pushed the idea of a waterway to link the hudson river and. Erie canalway national heritage corridor history and. The lesson uses the book the erie canal by lisa bullard. Martin morganstein, development director of the museum, and joan h.
Completed a decade later, the 309milelong ohio and erie canal connected cleveland, akron, massillon, dover, roscoe, newark, columbus, circleville, chillicothe, waverly, and portsmouth. Questions on this quiz are based on information from erie canal. The building of the erie canal, like the construction of the. Explore eight ways that the erie canal, which married the waters of the atlantic ocean and the great lakes, altered the course of american history. The cruise goes through the history of the canal and also takes passengers through lock 18. But most textbooks only devote a couple of pages to it, so your students are not getting a real feel for the men who built and worked along the canal. Today in historyoctober 26the library of congress features the erie canal, which opened on this day in 1825. This section of the erie canal web site contains a number of historical texts relating to the erie canal, some as scans of the original documents. History us history before 1900 the erie canal was one of the most important transportation routes in the early history of the united states. All formats available for pc, mac, ebook readers and other mobile devices.
From tidewater level at troy, the erie canal rises through a series of locks in the mohawk valley to an elevation of 420 feet above sealevel at the summit level at rome. On april 30, 1789, george washington was inaugurated as the nations first president at. In telling this gripping tale, the author offers a brief history of canals through the. This post contains helpful links and book suggestions for studying the erie canal with your 1st3rd grader. Harnessing gravity, the 363mile waterway flowed from buffalo, new york on the east coast of lake erie to the upper hudson river at albany. His depictions of life along the erie canal suggest a busy, thriving population, and his historical notes at the end add many practical details from the canals beginning in 1817 to its end in 1917. Grade 4 integrated social studies english language arts. The following erie canalrelated images were created from original documents and books in the collections of the new york state library unless otherwise noted.
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