Timeline story
Louisville and Portland Canal
The Falls of the Ohio form the only barrier to navigation between Pittsburgh and New Orleans, and cargo was portaged around them except for a few weeks of high water each spring.
Kentucky chartered the private Louisville and Portland Canal Company in 1825; construction started March 1, 1826, and the canal opened in 1830. As built, it was 1.9 miles long and 64 feet wide and ended in a three-flight lock with a total lift of 26 feet.
Wikipedia describes it as the first major improvement completed on a major U.S. river and dates full completion to 1833. The route was later enlarged and rebuilt and is now the McAlpine Locks and Dam canal; the pin marks the lock site at the downstream end.
Cite this story
Published . Last revised .
Chicago
Snowden, Shannon. "Louisville and Portland Canal." Kentucky History Drive. Published October 4, 2026. Last revised October 4, 2026. https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/louisville-and-portland-canal/.
MLA
Snowden, Shannon. "Louisville and Portland Canal." Kentucky History Drive, published 4 Oct. 2026, last revised 4 Oct. 2026, https://kyhistorydrive.com/stories/louisville-and-portland-canal/.
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