TIMELINE
1808: New York State Legislature allows a survey of possible routes for the Erie Canal
1809: Idea of canal is shown to President Jefferson, who thinks it is impossible to fund this project
1810: DeWitt Clinton takes over the canal project and the state legislature creates a canal commission
1811: It was planned to take a route that would cut the wilderness and allow contact with western New York
1812-1815: War with Great Britain temporarily halts the planning and construction. However, the war also emphasizes the need for a better transportation system.
1817: Clinton becomes governor and the project is backed by the whole state of New York
1819: First part of the Canal, a 98 miles way from Utica to Rome, begins construction
1823: Buffalo is chosen as the western end of the canal in the state of New York
1824: Much infrastructure is created because of the canal, such as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1825: Official completion of the canal from Albany to Buffalo
1835-1865: Canal is greatly extended to the Great Lakes
1809: Idea of canal is shown to President Jefferson, who thinks it is impossible to fund this project
1810: DeWitt Clinton takes over the canal project and the state legislature creates a canal commission
1811: It was planned to take a route that would cut the wilderness and allow contact with western New York
1812-1815: War with Great Britain temporarily halts the planning and construction. However, the war also emphasizes the need for a better transportation system.
1817: Clinton becomes governor and the project is backed by the whole state of New York
1819: First part of the Canal, a 98 miles way from Utica to Rome, begins construction
1823: Buffalo is chosen as the western end of the canal in the state of New York
1824: Much infrastructure is created because of the canal, such as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1825: Official completion of the canal from Albany to Buffalo
1835-1865: Canal is greatly extended to the Great Lakes