Dug by hand from 1825 to 1832, the Ohio and Erie Canal was the first canal west of the Appalachian Mountains. It connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River, providing a key link in an interstate shipping route that helped the nation grow. People and products flowed across America, canal towns became major commercial centers, and Ohio grew in population and wealth. Today, the first 110 miles of this historic public works project remain a place to explore its lasting impact, including routes associated with the canalway, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, the Towpath Trail once used by mules pulling canal boats, and a nationally designated scenic route through historic communities with canal-era roots.