The Delaware and Hudson Canal was the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which later developed the Delaware and Hudson Railway. Between 1828 and 1899, its barges carried anthracite coal from the mines of Northeastern Pennsylvania to New York City via the Hudson River. This affected both the city and the region, stimulating the former's growth and encouraging settlement in the latter, then sparsely populated. It remained a profitable private operation for most of its existence, unlike other canals of the era. Construction of the canal involved some major feats of civil engineering, and led to the development of some new technologies, particularly in rail transport.
For these reasons, the canal was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1968. Much of it was drained and filled after it was abandoned in the early 20th century. A few fragments of the canal remain in both states today, and are in use as parks and historic sites.
Read more about Delaware And Hudson Canal: Canal, Legacy, The Canal Today
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