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 as 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 can be explored along three spines of the Canalway, where culture, recreation, and natural beauty are being revitalized through a national heritage area.
