The Erie Canal: How A ‘Big Ditch’ Transformed America’s Faith

The Erie Canal: A Transformative 'Big Ditch' in America's History

Two hundred years ago, DeWitt Clinton boarded a canal boat on the shores of Lake Erie, marking the beginning of a new era.

On October, Clinton's vessel, the Seneca Chief, set off from Buffalo, the westernmost port of the newly constructed Erie Canal, and made its way east to Albany, then down the Hudson River to New York City.

"the Wedding of the Waters"

This historic journey, which culminated on November 4, was a ceremonial event that symbolized the connection between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Erie Canal is an engineering marvel and a National Historic Monument, celebrated in folk songs and inspiring future leaders, including a young Abraham Lincoln, who dreamed of becoming "the DeWitt Clinton of Illinois."

Author's summary: The Erie Canal transformed America 200 years ago.

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