The Erie Canal: Connecting the Great Lakes to New York City

Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal stretched 363 mi (584 km) from Albany on the Hudson River to Buffalo on Lake Erie. By linking the Great Lakes to the Hudson, it created a continuous water route to New York City and Atlantic ports.

The canal slashed freight costs, accelerated westward settlement, and made NYC the nation’s premier commercial hub—fueling 19th‑century U.S. economic expansion.