Miami – Erie Canal

<center><b>Miami &#8211; Erie Canal</b></center><br> 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.<br><br> Locks often became sites of towns, beginning with a tender’s house, followed by a stable, tavern and mill.<br><br> The canal was hand-dug to a minimum width of 26’ at the bottom and 40’ at the waterline.<br><br> 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.<br><br> After railroads caused canal importance to decline, the locks were abandoned.