Miami – Erie Canal
Lock 15
Miami – Erie Canal
From 1845 to about 1906 barges pulled by horses provided transportation from the Ohio River to Lake Erie through a system of locks which raised or lowered boats to the next level of the canal.
Locks often became sites of towns, beginning with a tender’s house, followed by a stable, tavern and mill.
The canal was hand-dug to a minimum width of 26’ at the bottom and 40’ at the waterline.
The first boat to Toledo left Cincinnati June 27, 1845, with the trip taking 4 days and 5 nights at a cost of 3 cents per passenger mile.
After railroads caused canal importance to decline, the locks were abandoned.
Marker is at the intersection of South Canal Street and West 1st Street, on the left when traveling south on South Canal Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
