Chemung Canal facts for kids

The Chemung Canal was an old waterway in New York State. It helped connect Seneca Lake to the Chemung River near Elmira, New York. This canal was built to link the Finger Lakes area and Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River to New York's larger Erie Canal system. The Erie Canal then connected to the Great Lakes, the Hudson River, and finally the Atlantic Ocean at New York City.

The Chemung Canal: A Watery Highway

How the Canal Was Built

Building the Chemung Canal was a big project! The state government gave $300,000 to build it. Work started in 1830 and finished in 1833.

The canal faced some challenges right away. A big rainstorm in May 1833 caused damage, delaying its full opening. Rain and floods were a problem every year while the canal was in use. To help boats move up and down hills, 49 special sections called locks were built along the canal.

The town of Ithaca, New York was a bit disappointed. They had hoped the canal would connect through Cayuga Lake instead.

Connecting Important Places

The Chemung Canal was part of a bigger network. In 1854, the Junction Canal was finished. This extended the canal system even further south into Pennsylvania from the Chemung River.

There was also a smaller "feeder canal" that connected the main Chemung Canal to the Corning area. This helped more towns use the canal for shipping goods.

Why the Canal Was Important

While it was running, the Chemung Canal was very important for trade. It helped move goods like coal, lumber, and farm products. These items came from Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier region of New York. They were shipped north on the canal.

Once they reached the Erie Canal, these goods could be sent to markets all over the world. Canal boats were even pulled across Seneca Lake from Watkins Glen to Geneva. From there, they could connect to the Cayuga and Seneca Canal system, which led to the Erie Canal.

The canal also helped cities like Elmira and Corning grow bigger and stronger.

The End of the Canal

By 1878, the Chemung Canal was not used much anymore. It started to fall apart. Parts of the land it was built on were sold off. Later, the leftover parts of the canal caused problems with water drainage, which cost money to fix.

Like many other canals, the Chemung Canal could not compete with the new railroad companies. Trains were faster and could carry more goods, making canals less useful.

What's Left Today?

Even though the canal is gone, parts of its old path are still used today. The Catharine Valley Trail is a popular trail built along some of the old towpaths. These were the paths where horses or mules would walk to pull the canal boats.