The Erie Canal: A Transformational Feat
Two hundred years ago, DeWitt Clinton boarded a canal boat on the shores of Lake Erie, marking the beginning of a new era. His vessel, the Seneca Chief, set off from Buffalo, the westernmost port of the newly constructed Erie Canal, and traveled east to Albany, then down the Hudson River to New York City.
This maiden voyage culminated on November 4 with a ceremonial event, where barrels of Lake Erie water were poured into the Atlantic, an event Clinton called "the Wedding of the Waters."
"the Wedding of the Waters"
The Erie Canal is an engineering marvel and a National Historic Monument, celebrated in folk song. Its legacy inspired young politician Abraham Lincoln, who dreamed of becoming "the DeWitt Clinton of Illinois."
Author's summary: The Erie Canal transformed America 200 years ago.
- DeWitt Clinton's maiden voyage on the Erie Canal
- Celebration of the canal's bicentennial
- Inspiration for Abraham Lincoln's political career