At the beginning of the 19th century, Ohio was geographically isolated from the economic vitality of the east coast. This was an issue that both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson discussed as early as 1787. Politicians and businessmen lobbied for the building of a canal to connect Lake Erie to the Ohio River and finally in 1822, the Ohio Legislature passed a resolution to begin the surveying of the land. The Canalway was built between 1825–1832 and was carved from the wilderness to provide an invaluable link from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, which created an inland water route between New York and New Orleans.

By connecting Ohio to New York and New Orleans, the Ohio & Erie Canalway helped fuel westward expansion, a national market economy and a booming industrial market. The canal defined the settlement of numerous towns, villages, and cities and attracted many businesses because of the viable transportation route it offered. Today, communities from Cleveland to Zoar celebrate the contributions of the canal.

To view a timeline of the Ohio & Erie Canal, click here.

Helping the Country Grow

The canal played an important role in the country's economy as the United States was establishing itself as a new nation. The canal gave Ohio the ability to become an economic resource for the nation. Materials and products from Ohio were then able to be shipped to the East Coast, which helped supply growing cities and industries. The United States gained the ability to rely on its own resources, rather than turning to colonial trade routes with Europe.

The Great Flood of 1913

The Great Flood of 1913 was the most devastating weather disaster Ohio had ever experienced. It occurred between March 23 and March 26, after several days of heavy rain fell for several days. Ohio experienced nearly 450 deaths from the flood and nearly 250,000 people were left homeless. The Ohio & Erie Canalway experienced extensive damage and was soon abandoned after this flood leaving hundreds of thousands of people without jobs. Because of the widespread damage that this flood caused, it is considered to be the second deadliest flood in the United States.