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Champlain Canal
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Tug and barge on the Champlain Canal during the 1980s
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| Location: | Rensselaer / Saratoga / Washington counties, New York, USA; extends from Waterford through Fort Edward to Whitehall |
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| Built: | 1823 |
| Architect: | Wright,Benjamin; Jarvis,John B. |
| Architectural style: | Transportation Canal |
| Governing body: | Local |
| NRHP Reference#: |
76001274 [1] |
| Added to NRHP: | September 01, 1976 |
The Champlain Canal is a 60 miles (97 km) canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal and is now part of the New York State Canal System and the Lakes to Locks Passage.
The canal was proposed in 1812 and construction authorized in 1817. By 1818, 12 miles (19 km) were completed and in 1819 the canal was opened from Fort Edward to Lake Champlain. The canal was officially opened on September 10, 1823.[2] It was an immediate financial success and carried substantial commercial traffic until the 1970s.
Today, the enlarged barge canal provides a convenient route from the Atlantic/Hudson River to Lake Champlain for recreational boaters. By traveling the length of Lake Champlain, boaters can access the Chambly Canal, which connects Lake Champlain to the Saint Lawrence Seaway.