https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/4d0f3731-86ab-403b-a54c-57aa89dfcfdc Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Website: www.PeriscopeFilm.com This film "The Erie Canal" (1980) was written by Jim Whitefield, narrated by Bill Kuhlke and released by Phoenix Films. It traces the history and development of the canal from its origin and opening in 1825 to the modern era. The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, was a 363-mile waterway that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes. Considered an engineering marvel of its time, the canal was largely built by hand and featured 83 locks and 18 aqueducts to overcome elevation changes and natural obstacles. Though initially mocked as "Clinton’s Folly," it proved to be a major economic success by dramatically reducing shipping time and costs. It stimulated the growth of towns along its route, helped make New York City a leading seaport, and sparked a nationwide canal-building boom. While most other canals failed, the Erie Canal remained profitable for decades, later becoming part of the New York State Barge Canal system. Today, portions of it are preserved for recreation and tourism, and it is celebrated as a symbol of American innovation and expansion. 0:00 Main title. The Erie Canal, also called the Grand Western Canal, the Big Ditch, and Clinton's Folly, opened in 1825. 0:43 – Stretching 363 miles, the canal linked the Hudson River to Lake Erie, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes. 1:15 – Celebrated as a major engineering feat, a newspaper praised it for being the longest, cheapest, and most beneficial canal ever built. 1:38 –The classic song "15 Miles on the Erie Canal" highlights daily life. 2:43 – Before the canal, America had only 100 miles of canal and relied on poor roads and coastal/riverside towns for trade. 3:30 – New York's Mohawk Valley offered a viable route through the Appalachian Mountains, enabling the idea of a canal to connect the Hudson and Lake Erie. 4:00 – Thomas Jefferson dismissed the canal as madness, but DeWitt Clinton championed it and eventually got state funding. 4:33 – Construction Begins (1817) Groundbreaking took place in Rome, NY. Construction started in easier segments, with boats operating on completed parts. 5:01 – The canal was 40 ft wide at the top, 28 ft at the bottom, and 4 ft deep, with a 10-ft-wide towpath. 5:30 – Montezuma Swamp caused illness among workers; nearly 10,000 were affected, and many died. 6:01 – 83 locks were built to overcome a 700 ft elevation difference. The Lockport locks engineering. 7:02 – 18 aqueducts (water bridges) were built . 7:21 – (1825) After eight years, the canal was completed, culminating in massive celebrations. 8:12 – Lake Erie water was ceremoniously poured into the Atlantic Ocean, symbolizing the connection. 8:24 – Canal reduced travel time and cost. It boosted commerce, migration, and made NYC a leading seaport. 9:11 – Freight and elegant packet boats used the canal, with speed limits to prevent bank erosion. 10:06 – Many canal workers and families lived aboard boats, working long hours with little space. 10:51 – Boats were pulled by horses or mules led by young drivers (hogies). 11:19 – Steam-powered boats emerged by 1823, but animal-powered boats remained dominant for decades. 11:36 – Towns like Lockport and Fairport sprang up along the canal, many growing into major cities like Buffalo and Syracuse. 12:18 – Other NY Canals Additional canals like the Champlain, Oswego, and others expanded the system to 11 by 1850. 13:00 – Inspired by the Erie, over 6,000 miles of canals were built nationally. 13:27 – Railroads eventually supplanted canals due to greater speed, capacity, and year-round operation. 14:00 – Despite the decline of others, the Erie continued freight traffic and saw two enlargements, supported by New Yorkers. 14:48 – Parts of the original canal are preserved as parks or bike paths. 15:40 – The Erie became part of the NY State Barge Canal system, using old sections or paralleling them. 16:11 – Original Lockport locks replaced with two large single locks. 16:24 – Today, powered boats use the canal, both for commerce and pleasure, replacing animal-powered transport. 17:53 – Most of the canal can accommodate vessels large enough for Great Lakes navigation. 18:28 – Though renamed the NY State Barge Canal, many still nostalgically call it the Erie Canal. 19:03 – Despite its evolution, the Erie Canal remains a symbol of American ingenuity and is remembered in stories and songs. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsn6LVgL1co Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:20:11 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/4d0f3731-86ab-403b-a54c-57aa89dfcfdc All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.