Santee Canal

The Santee Canal was one of the earliest canals built in the United States. It was built to provide a direct water route between Charleston and Columbia, the new South Carolina state capital.

History

In 1786, the South Carolina General Assembly charted a company to construct and maintain the inland canal linking the Cooper River near Charleston, with the Santee River. The Santee River connects to the Congaree River and the City of Columbia. Construction started in 1793 under the direction of Engineer Col. John Christian Senf. It opened in 1800.

It was 22 mi (35 km) long. It had two double locks and eight single locks. Its width was 35 ft (10.7 m) at the water's surface and 20 ft (6.1 m) at the bottom. Its depth was 4 ft (1.2 m).

Due to low traffic, poor construction, and droughts, the canal was not a financial success. The construction of railroads sealed its fate. It lost its state charter in 1853. It was not used after 1865. Much of it was flooded by the construction of Lake Moultrie.^[1]

The Santee Canal is on the National Register of Historic Places, No. 82003833. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information,^[2] and copies of the nomination forms.^[3]

There are additional pictures and information available from the Historic American Building Survey at the Library of Congress.^[4]

References

1. ^ Edgar, Walter, ed. The South Carolina Encyclopedia, University of South Carolina Press, 2006, p. 838, ISBN 1-57003-598-2
2. ^ Pictures of the Old Santee Canal.
3. ^ Santee Canal nomination form.
4. ^ Prints and Photographs Online Catalog - Search for "Santee Canal"

See also

• List of canals in the United States