Miami and Erie Canal Deep Cut facts for kids
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Miami and Erie Canal, Deep Cut
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Deep Cut in 2008
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Allen / Auglaize counties, Ohio, USA |
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| Nearest city | Spencerville, Ohio |
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000603 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
The Miami and Erie Canal Deep Cut is a special part of the historic Miami and Erie Canal in western Ohio. It's located near Spencerville. This section is about 6,600-foot (2,000 m) long. It's called the "Deep Cut" because workers had to dig very deep into the ground. They dug up to 52 feet (16 m) down into a ridge of blue clay. This was much deeper than the canal's usual 5-foot (1.5 m) depth. They did this to avoid building locks to get boats over a high hill. The Deep Cut is a National Historic Landmark in the United States. Today, it's a park called Deep Cut Historical Park. You can find trails and a picnic area there.
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Ohio's Historic Canals
The Miami and Erie Canal was one of the two main man-made waterways in Ohio. It was built a long time ago, between 1825 and 1845. This important canal stretched all the way from Cincinnati to Toledo. It also passed through cities like Dayton.
Why Canals Were Important
Canals like the Miami and Erie Canal were super important for Ohio. They helped new settlers move into the western parts of the state. They also made it easier for farmers to send their crops to markets. This helped Ohio grow and become a busy place.
Building the Deep Cut
Building the Deep Cut was a huge and difficult job. Imagine digging a ditch 52 feet (16 m) deep and over a mile long! This work was done by many people. Local workers helped, and so did many Irish immigrants who came to America. Some people who were required to work also helped build it.
Canals Become Obsolete
Over time, new ways of transportation came along. Railroads started to become popular. Trains could move goods and people much faster than canal boats. Because of this, the canal system slowly became less used. Eventually, canals were no longer the main way to travel or transport goods.
Visiting the Deep Cut
The Deep Cut is easy to find. It's about two miles (3 km) south of Spencerville. You can get there by taking State Route 66. Because of its history, the Deep Cut was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The park area covers parts of both Allen and Auglaize counties.
Images for kids
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A view of the Deep Cut, showing how deep it was dug.
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Another angle of the Deep Cut, now a peaceful park.
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The canal bed, now dry, where boats once traveled.
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A sign at the Deep Cut Historical Park.
