Katana VentraIP

Miami and Erie Canal

The Miami and Erie Canal was a 274-mile (441 km) canal that ran from Cincinnati to Toledo, Ohio, creating a water route between the Ohio River and Lake Erie.[1] Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845 at a cost to the state government of $8 million ($262 million in 2023). At its peak, it included 19 aqueducts, three guard locks, 103 canal locks, multiple feeder canals, and a few man-made water reservoirs. The canal climbed 395 feet (120 m) above Lake Erie and 513 feet (156 m) above the Ohio River to reach a topographical peak called the Loramie Summit, which extended 19 miles (31 km) between New Bremen, Ohio to lock 1-S in Lockington, north of Piqua, Ohio. Boats up to 80 feet long were towed along the canal by mules, horses, or oxen walking on a prepared towpath along the bank, at a rate of four to five miles per hour.

Due to competition from railroads, which began to be built in the area in the 1850s, the commercial use of the canal gradually declined during the late 19th century. It was permanently abandoned for commercial use in 1913 after a historic flood in Ohio severely damaged it.[2] Only a small fraction of the canal survives today, along with its towpath and locks.

4 ft (1.2 m) water depth.

40 ft (12 m) wide at water level.

10 ft (3.0 m) wide towpath in addition to mandated outer slopes.

All slopes are 4.5 ft (1.4 m) horizontal to 4 ft (1.2 m). perpendicular.

The canal could accommodate boats up to 90 ft (27 m) long and 14 ft (4.3 m) wide. <

[8]

Toledo, Ohio

Maumee, Ohio

Waterville, Ohio

(defunct city across the Maumee River from Grand Rapids, Ohio)

Providence, Ohio

Napoleon, Ohio

Florida, Ohio

The canal turns here in a southerly route to Cincinnati.

Defiance, Ohio

Junction, Ohio

Melrose, Ohio

Ottoville, Ohio

Delphos, Ohio

Spencerville, Ohio

Kossuth, Ohio

St. Marys, Ohio

New Bremen, Ohio

Minster, Ohio

Fort Loramie, Ohio

(North end of the Sidney Feeder)

Port Jefferson, Ohio

(Middle section of the feeder)

Sidney, Ohio

(Southern end junction of the Sidney Feeder)

Lockington, Ohio

Piqua, Ohio

Troy, Ohio

Tipp City, Ohio

Huber Heights, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Moraine, Ohio

Alexandersville, Ohio

West Carrollton, Ohio

Miamisburg, Ohio

Franklin, Ohio

Middletown, Ohio

Hamilton, Ohio

West Chester, Ohio

Sharonville, Ohio

Evendale, Ohio

(Site of the first set of locks)

Lockland, Ohio

Elmwood Place, Ohio

St. Bernard, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

The following is a list of towns and cities within Ohio (arranged North to South) along the Miami and Erie Canal. The canal was constructed parallel to the Maumee River to Defiance, from where it was constructed in a southerly route to Cincinnati.

Map of canals in Ohio, the Miami and Erie Canal is on the left

Miami-Erie Canal Corridor Association History of the canal and description of current efforts to preserve historical features

Piqua Historical Society images of the Miami-Erie Canal

Current photos of the Miami-Erie canal from Ohio Byways

Piqua Historical Area includes a stretch of canal and a functional replica canal boat

Map - Miami and Erie Canal through Cincinnati

Secured log-in, register required.

Plat maps of canal by county - ODNR

Ohio Canals Map