The Erie Canal: A Transformational Feat
The Erie Canal, a National Historic Monument, has been celebrated in folk songs for its engineering marvel.
Two hundred years ago, DeWitt Clinton boarded a canal boat on the shores of Lake Erie, marking the beginning of the canal's maiden voyage.
The Wedding of the Waters
was the culmination of this voyage, where barrels of Lake Erie water were ceremoniously discharged into the Atlantic.
- The canal's construction connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, transforming America's faith in its capabilities.
- Abraham Lincoln, as a young politician, aspired to become
the DeWitt Clinton of Illinois
.
Author's summary: The Erie Canal transformed America 200 years ago.