Ohio and Erie Canal: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Regions 3, 4, & 5 Park Cultural Landscapes Program

Approximately twenty-two miles of the Ohio and Erie Canal corridor passes through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, following the course of the Cuyahoga River from Akron to Cleveland, Ohio. The canal bisects the park on its north-south axis. The landscape description provided by the CLI is largely derived from the 1978 National Register (NR) Nomination form, with more current feature-specific details included in the Analysis and Evaluation section of the report. Although the original NR description separates the canal into three segments, the CLI takes a more holistic approach to include the entire canal corridor. The period of significance for the Ohio and Erie Canal landscape begins with the start of construction in 1825 and continues until 1913, when a massive flood occurred that resulted in much of the canal’s demise. The canal is identified as one of the park’s transportation resources, and it is also significant for associations to areas of engineering, commerce, industry, and settlement. The Ohio and Erie Canal was a 308-mile waterway connecting Lake Erie at Cleveland with the Ohio River at Portsmouth, providing a means of transportation to the interior of Ohio and areas westward. The opening of the canal in 1827 had a significant influence on development in the Cuyahoga River Valley, influencing settlement patterns and the growth of commercial farming. The expansion of railroads in the mid-1800s introduced greater speed and flexibility to transportation that could not be matched by the canal. Thus, the devastation caused by a March 1913 flood only accelerated the canal system’s already imminent demise. Much of the canal was abandoned as a transportation route, although the northern portion from Brecksville to Cleveland was salvaged as an industrial water supply. The southern portion of the canal within the park no longer has water; however, the canal prism and towpath retain their original configuration for much of the length. The cultural landscape includes the remains of numerous historic structures such as locks and aqueducts, the towpath, the canal channel (prism), and right-of-ways on both banks. An early grist mill, lock tender’s house, and former general store are also included. Additionally, the natural and cultural character of the surrounding areas convey the impact the canal had on the area’s development. Historic canal towns, rural agricultural countryside, and signs of post-canal and railway development continue to be associated with the significance of the canal in the area. In addition to its local significance, the Ohio and Erie Canal is nationally important as a part of the canal system created to provide transportation and water supply. The canal played a critical role in 19th century developments in industry and the market economy, providing a way to move goods that encouraged specialization and economies of scale. The ease of transportation and rise of industry influenced settlement patterns, as population centers grew and many immigrants came to the area. Aside from its effects, construction of the canal itself was an economic stimulus, causing Ohio to become the third most prosperous state in the nation. During the second part of the 20th century, preserving the canal and its features became of greater interest to outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists, and historians. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park was established in 1974, contributing to management, protection, and interpretation of the landscape. The corridor preserves not only the canal itself, but also helps to express the evolution of transportation systems in America and the associated developments in the surrounding landscape. The canal and towpath is currently preserved as an historic interpretive resource and a recreational site.

Ohio and Erie Canal: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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