Miami and Erie Canal

The Miami and Erie Canal was a canal that connected the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio with Lake Erie in Toledo, Ohio. Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845. It consisted of 19 aqueducts, three guard locks, and 103 canal locks. Each lock measured 90 feet (27 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m) and they collectively raised the canal 395 feet (120 m) above Lake Erie and 513 feet (156 m) above the Ohio River. The peak of the canal was called the Loramie Summit and extended 19 miles (31 km) between New Bremen, Ohio to lock 1-S in Lockington, north of Piqua, Ohio. The system consisted of 301.49 miles (485.20 km) of canal channel built at a cost of $8,062,680.07. Boats were towed along the canal using either donkeys or horses walking on a prepared towpath along the bank. The boats typically traveled at a rate of four to five miles per hour.

A topographical map showing the geography, path, and elevations of the entire canal can be found in the Heritage Museum, located in the building also housing the Shrine of the Holy Relics, in Maria Stein, Ohio, a community 6 mi (10 km) from the canal and just south of Grand Lake St. Marys.

Grand Lake St. Marys, a manmade lake west of St. Marys, Ohio was originally constructed as a reservoir to supply water for the canal. Lake Loramie in Shelby County also was constructed as a reservoir for the canal. Indian Lake in Logan County was greatly enlarged to provide a steadier supply of water for the Sidney feeder canal. All three lakes are still used for recreation.

A branch canal, the Warren County Canal, was constructed from the Miami and Erie Canal at Middletown, Ohio to Lebanon, Ohio. This branch was opened in 1840, but remained in operation less than 15 years before being abandoned.

A short branch, the Sidney or Port Jefferson feeder canal ran up the Miami Valley from Lockington through Sidney to a dam just upstream from Port Jefferson.

Much of the canal corridor remains a prosperous manufacturing area; today Interstate 75 and railroads provide transportation rather than the canal.

At Providence Metropark along the Maumee River just west of Toledo near Grand Rapids, Ohio, there is a historical reenactment of the Miami-Erie canal. Historical actors dress and act as if it is 1876 during the months of May–October. Two mules pull the canal boat titled "The Volunteer" while workers till and provide commentary to the passengers. Providence Metroparks boasts using an original lock as part of the tour. That lock is the only working lock in the state of Ohio.