How The Erie Canal Transformed America - IT'S HISTORY

Europe called it impossible. President Thomas Jefferson claimed it was “nothing short of madness.” However, the state of New York proceeded anyway and carved the largest canal the world had ever seen. Though the state faced many challenges, including training an engineering team, carving the land, designing the climbs, and even securing permission for construction. Today, we will explore the history of the Erie Canal.

Chapters:
0:00 - The History of the Erie canal
0:37 - The Roads and Rivers of Early American Infrastructure
6:55 - Senator DeWitt Clinton
10:39 - The Biggest Ditch in the World (The Erie Canal)
14:40 - The Difficulties of Finishing the Erie Canal
17:59 - the success of the Erie Canal
19:59 - The Erie Canal in modern-day

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IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Gregory Back
Editor - Rishi Mittal
Host - Ryan Socash

» SOURCES

» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[ITSHISTORY]

Learn how the Erie Canal transformed America, why Jefferson thought it was "just short of insanity, " and how the Irish were the bravest of all! New episode premiering tomorrow! DO NOT MISS IT!

[Jakob_DK]

I live in Denmark in Europe. The Erie canal also changed our history.
The economy was based on export of grain. The canal resulted in low price on grain in the global market. The farmers had to invent and started exporting butter and pork meet to England and the industrial workers. We still have a considerable export of Danish Bacon and Lurpak butter.

[starsixseven]

In Rochester NY, the Erie canal intersects with the locally significant Genesee river - almost like a road intersection. The whole area is now a very pretty park complete with canal boats and kayaks and fisherman and bikers all going about their business in a scene that can only be described as peaceful. If you're in the area, stop by. It's quaint

[freetolook]

NYS route 5 parallels the Erie Canal system from Albany to Buffalo, NY.
If you ever get a chance, it's a nice journey through upstate NY.

[rickbaker]

I'm a chief lock opearator this video sure gives me more pride about what I do for a living. been working the greatest job I have ever had for 18 years and still here it's been an adventure for me, it's great to meet all the wonderful boaters, bicyclist and general people alike. Dreams do come true it's been my dream to be a chief lock opearator and now it's a dream come true ..keep the canal alive keep it clean and it will always give back if you give to it..clean fun, fishing 🎣 boating, or just the occasional walk..so welcome to the canal from all of us lock opearators.

[NawDawgTheRazor]

As a Buffalonian, this fills me with immense pride. Thank you. And yes, we do love our Erie Canal. I drive by and across it weekly.

[emu]

Amazing video! Proud Upstate New Yorker here! Growing up in Albany, going to college in Buffalo, and then attending graduate school in Rochester, the Erie Canal was always a familiar friend to me! Cycling along the beautiful canalway bike path, going on a boat ride or in a kayak in its waters, speeding alongside on the Thruway or on Amtrak, or watching the cool scene of a lock raising and lowing those many tons of water, are all such a joys! Another amazing video - Well done!

[robbsclassics]

My family has been engrained in Western New York for generations. I grew up going under the Canal around Medina, riding my bike over the bridge in Middleport, going through the locks of Lockport, and swimming in the Canal. I grew up in a house on the Underground Railroad that was owned by Belva Lockwood. My grandfather had a part of every classic GM car from the 50s-70s. Very proud of my small part of the USA that has changed the nation and world. Come out. We have an absolutely beautiful state with some amazing people.

[charlescrawford]

Other cities such as Washington and Philadelphia constructed competing canals with the goal to reach the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers but never came close to reaching the final destinations. These canals were eventually eclipsed by developing rail systems. A recommended book on the Erie Canal is the "Wedding of the Waters" by Peter L. Bernstein.

[Ekkis]

As a regional manager in the late 90's, my territory was from Erie to Syracuse, and I drove back and forth over the canal all week in my travels visiting some 60 locations mostly small towns (like Lockport). I could see that many of those towns had strong ties to the canal (like Medina) I never got lost because I had the canal to orient me.

[induceddemand]

A lot of similar canals were blasted through Ontario - the Rideau and Trent-Severn, namely. The most impressive of them all is the Welland Canal, not too far from Buffalo. The same lock tech as on the Erie, except it moves 700-foot lake freighters. In fact the Welland (and the St Lawrence Seaway it was a part of) was one of the big things that killed the Erie, giving ships a more direct path to the ocean via Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River, and led to the prosperity of cities like Toronto and Montreal.

[Vanbooskie]

This is by far my most favorite industrial construction story. It's just so damn cool. Lots of brave men that wasn't scared to push the boundaries and prove to themselves and others the impossible is possible with perseverance.

[paulgracey]

In 2000 I rode a bicycle from California, coast to coast to Connecticut. To get around, instead of over the Alleghenies I followed much of that canal route to Albany. What I learned along that route was that the NY State Barge Canal realignment promoted by Rockefeller made much of the the original canal right of way redundant. Thus it is now a bicycle trail that once was a railroad along the towpath, and includes rights of way for high tension electric power transmission towers in the overgrown old canal itself.
So much of your more modern footage is of that realigned portion of the canal big enough for Rockefeller's oil barges to traverse it. Canalization of the Mohawk river through multiple dams made this newer version still relevant, despite the railroads absorbing most of the goods and passenger traffic. Thanks for explaining the History that preceded all of that.

[hank]

Hoosier here. After the success of the Erie Canal my state tried to publicly fund a similar cross-state canal. The costs ended up bankrupting the state and led to a constitutional amendment which prevents the state government from going into debt. Part of the canal was constructed, and is now a nice pedestrian area of downtown Indy. This is another great video from an excellent channel

[jonbeldner]

Pittsford is a great example of a town whose birth can be attributed to the Erie Canal. In Schoen Place the original buildings from the 1800s remain intact. Stop by it's great for a walk in the summertime, and fascinating to see the canal at work. The local brewery even sent massive tanks through the area to construct on their site downtown using the Erie Canal fairly recently! Enjoyed the video, thank you!

[SchoharieCrossing]

Looking forward to checking this one out! We're a well known Erie Canal historic site in the Mohawk Valley.

[foxesofautumn]

In my Australian (Catholic) primary school we learnt, and sang, the song about the Erie Canal and it's very interesting to hear the story of this marvel I have been aware of for most of my life yet not really known much about. Low bridge, everybody down!

[separator]

This one's going to be really interesting. I live in North Tonawanda, right on the canal, and don't even know the full story. Looking forward to it.

[nordisk]

As someone who has sailed up and down the barge canal on the only overnight cruise ships on the system. 34 up and 33 down! It’s great hearing it’s history.

[natemundt]

Grew up in Fairport along the canal, it's still very important to the town and I can tell you one of the best parts about growing up there