Lock No.3, Hennepin Canal, near Bureau, IL - Waterway Locks, Planes and Lifts on Waymarking.com

This is Lock No.3 near the eastern end of the Hennepin Canal that went all of the way to the Rock River (just a couple of miles from the Mississippi River) near Moline, IL. The canal was open in 1907 and took over ten years to build. Unfortunately for this canal, locks on the Illinois River and Mississippi River were rebuilt to allow passage of larger and longer barges. Newer barges would not fit in the Hennepin Canal. Also at this time, railroads (some paralleled the canal) grew more powerful, larger, and faster; thus competing for any commerce the canal may have seen. By the time the first boat went though this canal, it was already obsolete. By the 1930's, it saw mainly only recreational traffic and was eventually closed to boat traffic in 1951.

Now the canal is a state park with hiking and bike trails its full length of about 100 miles, of which 30 miles is along a feeder canal from Rock Falls, IL. In addition to hiking and biking, one can also picnic, fish, and camp. Horseback riding is allowed in some areas. Canoing and light boating is allowed in some places.

This waymark is for Lock No. 3 which is near the eastern end of the canal and which is just a couple of miles from the Illinois River. The eastern gates on the lock have been removed and the western gates have been made permanent and now act as a dam. At this lock is a parking lot with restroom facilities. The entrance to the parking lot is of of Rt.29, Bureau, IL.

Waterway Name: Hennepin Canal Connected Points: The Hennepin Canal connected the Illinois River on the east end near Bureau, IL to the Rock River near Moline, IL. Then it was just a couple of miles on the Rock River to the Mississippi River. Type: Lock Date Opened: 01/01/1907 Date Closed (if applicable): 01/01/1951 Elevation Difference (meters): 2.00 Site Status: Inactive Web Site: [Web Link]

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