cruised the Erie Canal Locks in Lockport, NY
July 25, 2011
July 25, 2011
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cruised the Erie Canal Locks in Lockport, NY July 25, 2011 |
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| The two RV Gypsies and their grandson, Alex Jones, experienced a 2-hour cruise including "locking through" and being raised the 49 foot elevation of the Niagara Escarpment (the same one that creates Niagara Falls) in the only double set of locks on the Erie Canal. The boat passed under bridges that raised straight up, and water cascaded over Lockport's famous "Flight of Five" 1840's locks, and traveled through the solid walls of the "rock cut" | |
Note: There is a movie of the Erie Canal Locks that can be reached through the TOC button above. |
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 Much
remains the same on the Erie Canal today as it was in the 1800's. Hand-dug
to connect the Hudson River with the Niagara River, the 363-mile Grand Old
Erie Canal is truly a great engineering feat. Originally, 83 stone locks
overcame the 571-foot difference in the level between the rivers. Enlarged
in the early 1900's, now 35 locks allow larger vessels to travel across
New York State. |
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"In 1843, during the first enlargement of the canal, a wooden bridge 105 feet wide was built to carry Main Street traffic across the canal. It was known by the names Main Street Bridge or the “Big Bridge.” In 1851, part of the bridge was being used as a community market. Even at the width of 105 feet, the Big Bridge left 6 feet of open canal exposed, mostly in a direct line with Main Street. In 1885, the wooden “Big Bridge” was condemned. On May 26, 1886, construction began on a new iron Big Bridge and $10,000 was appropriated for the work. This time, the Big Bridge was 272 feet long and occupied the full width of Main Street and considerably more. At the dedication on September 1, 1852, a big celebration took place with brass bands, lavish fireworks and many speeches. The newspaper of September 2 reported 10,000 people gathered for the opening celebration. By 1911, Lockport was widening the canal for the new Barge Canal expansion and the new Big Bridge construction was begun. The work was completed in 1914 and a historical marker was erected at the eastern end stating that it is “one of the widest bridges in the world.” The bridge measures 389 feet wide and 129 feet in length. This bridge survives still today. With high-speed automobiles replacing horse and buggies, many passersby do not even realize that they have crossed over the fabled Erie Canal." |
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The two photos below look like a road, sidewalk, and parking area, but are actually photos
of the topside of the Big Bridge. |
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Below: Looking down at
the locks from the Big Bridge
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| Below: Then the two RV Gypsies and their grandson, Alex Jones, walked all around this portion of the Erie Canal. | |
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| Below: Alex wanted to photograph the Whiskey trash can and the E-Z Does It - Apples - so he did! | |
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The sub-menu
below has ten sections of Niagara Falls in the USA that you may visit in any order
you choose. The page you are on is not underlined and cannot be chosen from here. There is also a link to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls below, and a Flashback to 1968. |
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Erie Canal Locks, Lockport
NY (this page) |
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 AFTER
you have visited all of the above sections, please continue on toNiagara Falls on the Canadian side - Journey Behind the Falls and a view of the falls taken from the Skylon Tower
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The
Big Bridge - brief history quoted from http://lockportjournal.com/canaldiscovery/x212285501/CANAL-DISCOVERY-Background-on-the-Big-Bridge
