Skip to main content

Wright, Benjamin

Erie Canal
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Transportation Era: 1800-1829 DateCreated: 1825 Hudson River to Lake Erie State: NY Zip: Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Erie-Canal/ Creator: Wright, Benjamin, Geddes, James

In its day, the famous Erie Canal was the world's longest canal and America's greatest engineering feat. It was the principal route for emigrants from the East and agricultural products from the West. Before construction of the canal, New York City was the nation's fifth largest seaport, behind Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New Orleans. Within 15 years of its opening, New York was the busiest port in America, moving tonnages greater than Boston, Baltimore and New Orleans combined.  

YearAdded:
1967
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Doug Kerr (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: Erie Canal - Waterford, NY Era_date_from: 1825
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Water Transportation Era: 1800-1829 DateCreated: 1829 Chesapeake and Delaware Canal New Castle State: DE Zip: 19701 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/project/chesapeake---delaware-canal/ Creator: Wright, Benjamin, White, Canvass

The Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is the only canal built in 19th-century America that still operates today as a major shipping route. Connecting the Port of Baltimore and Upper Chesapeake Bay with the mouth of the Delaware River and the Port of Philadelphia, the canal was one of the first civil engineering projects proposed in the New World and one of the most difficult to carry out. Although only 14 miles long, the canal's original cost made it one of the most expensive canals ever built in America.  

YearAdded:
1985
Image Credit: Original Image: Courtesy Flickr/Lee Cannon (CC BY-SA 2.0) Image Caption: Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Era_date_from: 1829
Subscribe to Wright, Benjamin
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

The Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is the only canal built in 19th-century America that still operates today as a major shipping route. Connecting the Port of Baltimore and Upper Chesapeake Bay with the mouth of the Delaware River and the Port of Philadelphia, the canal was one of the first…

Read More
Erie Canal

In its day, the famous Erie Canal was the world's longest canal and America's greatest engineering feat. It was the principal route for emigrants from the East and agricultural products from the West. Before construction of the canal, New York City was the nation's fifth largest seaport, behind…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support this 70-year tradition of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to American Heritage.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.