Blackstone Canal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Blackstone Canal
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The canal followed the Moshassuck River through Providence
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Providence, Rhode Island extending to Worcester, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1824 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000030, 73000328, 91001536, 95001004 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1971 |
The Blackstone Canal was an important waterway built in the early 1800s. It connected the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island, which is on Narragansett Bay. This canal helped people move goods and materials through the Blackstone Valley using boats. It made trade much easier than traveling on bumpy roads.
Contents
Building the Blackstone Canal
The idea for the canal came from merchants in Providence, Rhode Island. They wanted to trade more easily with farmers in the Blackstone Valley and Worcester County. People in Worcester and the Blackstone Valley also liked the idea. They hoped to get better prices for their farm products by shipping them on the canal.
At that time, most trade from central Massachusetts went through Boston. So, businesses in Boston tried to stop the canal project for several years. But finally, in 1823, the Blackstone Canal Company was formed. This company was created by a law in Massachusetts, and a Rhode Island company soon joined.
Construction and Opening
Building the canal started in 1825. It cost about $750,000, which was twice what they first expected. The canal officially opened on October 7, 1828. The first boat to travel the whole way was called the Lady Carrington. It arrived in Worcester, marking a big moment.
The canal quickly brought good times to Worcester and the Blackstone Valley. Farmers earned more money, and new factories were built. Moving goods by water was a huge improvement over the rough roads of that time. The canal used the best transportation technology available back then.
How the Canal Worked
Traveling on the canal boats from Worcester to Providence took two days. The return trip to Worcester also took two days. Boats would stop overnight in Uxbridge.
The canal was about 35 feet wide or more. It climbed 451 feet in height from Providence to Worcester. To do this, it used 49 special gates called locks. A lock is like a water elevator that raises or lowers boats between different water levels.
The canal also used "slack-water" sections. These were parts where the canal flowed directly in the Blackstone River to get around narrow areas. It met the Blackstone River 16 times along its 45-mile path. About 10% of the canal's length was actually in the river itself. These river sections could be tricky. Sometimes, in summer, the water was too low for boats. Other times, floods caused problems. In winter, ice made travel impossible.
Each lock was 70 feet long and 10 feet wide. They were about 4 to 4.5 feet deep. All the locks, except one in Providence, were built from strong granite stone. They sat on a wooden base. Each lock raised or lowered boats by about 9.2 feet.
The canal was designed by famous engineers. One was Benjamin Wright, who was the chief engineer for the Erie Canal. Another was Holmes Hutchinson. Because of this, the Blackstone Canal's locks were similar to the original Erie Canal's, but smaller.
The Canal's Path
From the center of Worcester, Massachusetts, the canal followed Mill Creek. Then, it followed the Blackstone River downstream to Ashton, Rhode Island. At Ashton, it ran next to the river's west bank. It kept its height until it reached Cranberry and Scotts Ponds. From there, it used locks to go down into the Moshassuck Valley. Finally, it followed the Moshassuck River into Providence, Rhode Island.
End of the Canal Era
Boston merchants wanted to get back the trade that was now going to Providence. So, they built a railroad line to Worcester in 1835. Railroads were a very new technology then. In 1847, a new railroad called the Providence and Worcester Railroad started running right next to the canal. Because trains were much faster, the canal closed in 1848, after only 20 years of use.
The Canal Today
Since the canal closed, parts of it have been filled in. Other sections are now covered with plants and trees. Some parts were changed into smaller canals to power textile mills. Much of the stone from the locks was sold and used for other buildings.
However, you can still see parts of the canal in many places. About 85% of the original canal remains. Two long sections are now part of state parks: the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Massachusetts and the Blackstone River State Park in Rhode Island. Other parts are also owned by the public.
The canal is recognized as historically important. Several parts of it are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their history. For example, a section in Lincoln, Rhode Island, was listed in 1971. Later, the entire Rhode Island section was added in 1991. A section in Uxbridge and Northbridge, Massachusetts was listed in 1973, and the full Massachusetts part was added in 1995.
A path for bikes and walkers, called the Blackstone River Bikeway, follows the old canal towpath in Lincoln, Rhode Island. You can see the river on one side and the old canal on the other.
Why the Canal Was Important
The Blackstone Canal is historically important because it was part of a big wave of canal building in the early 1800s. It played a key role in helping industries grow between Providence and Worcester. It also helped the towns and villages along the Moshassuck and Blackstone Rivers.
Even though the canal was only used for about 20 years, it was a very important part of the area's history. It shows how cities planned for growth, aimed for more trade, and became successful.
See also
In Spanish: Canal Blackstone para niños
