Erie Canal Locks 34 & 35 - Lockport, NY
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 43° 10.236 W 078° 41.592
17T E 687505 N 4782343
Locks 34 and 35 are the last ones to pass through on the way from Albany to Buffalo.
Waymark Code: WMVG9
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 10/16/2006
Views: 118
In 1820, David Thomas was appointed the principal engineer of construction of the Erie Canal west of the Genesee River. As State Surveyor, Thomas chose the area of the future Lockport as the site of the Locks. At this time there was no frame house or barn within five miles of Lockport. In January of 1821, advertisements appeared in New York City. Contractors were seeking men to work on the canal in Niagara County.
The locks design were the idea of Nathan Roberts. A sixty foot drop existed at Lockport and a way had to be devised to raise and lower the boats to complete the journey to Buffalo. Roberts's idea was a twin flight of locks with five locks each, one set for eastbound travelers and one for westbound. In 1823, work began on the lock construction. On June 24, 1825 the capstone of the locks was laid. The first locks were 90 ft. long by 15 ft. deep. Boats could carry 75 ton loads. On October 26, the full length of the Erie Canal was opened. On that day Governor DeWitt Clinton came through Lockport aboard the Seneca Chief and passed successfully through the twin flight of locks.
The Erie Canal was enlarged between 1835 and 1862, and thus the Lockport locks were increased in size to 100'x18'. This allowed an increase in the tonnage of canal boats from 75 to 240.
From 1909-1918, the Erie Canal was modified again to become the NY State Barge Canal. The southern set of locks were removed and replaced with a set of two electric powered lifts. These new locks with steel gates were 310'x45'x12' and had a combined lift of 49'. The water gates of the northern set of locks were removed to allow for excess water to continue downstream. This is how the locks operate today.
Waterway Name: Erie Canal
Connected Points:
Albany, NY to Buffalo, NY
Type: Lock
Date Opened: 10/26/1825
Elevation Difference (meters): 15.00
Site Status: Operational
Web Site: [Web Link]
Date Closed (if applicable): Not listed
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