Miami & Erie Canal at Grand Rapids, OH

Below you can see some of the cool shots we got while riding one of the last trips of the season, on the historic Miami & Erie canal in Grand Rapids, Ohio the weekend of October 26th, 2008…

Here you can see the canal ending to the north at the Maumee River. After talking to one of the gals on the boat across the river, she said that they used to use poles to cross the river when the boats were being used. This photo is on the north side of a bridge that spans the canal that is now dammed up to keep water on the south of the bridge.

No longer functional with a real boat, or team of mules, this section of canal is still full of water, and runs behind the town of Grand Rapids in Ohio, on the south side of the Maumee river. This photo shows the dammed up section of the canal, on the south side of the bridge also in the photo above, still full of water.

On the north side of the Maumee river, this is what greets visitors on the functional canal section with the only working lock on the original Miami & Erie canal. Ahead you can see the lock with the near gates open. To protect the mule team, the rope on the canal boat is dropped and skill and momentum slides the canal boat into the lock. The crew is able to use poles if needed.

Here we are entering the lock, just 6″ wider than the boat to protect it from moving too much when the water enters or is released.

One of the saviors of this section of canal is the historic Issaic Ludwig mill pictured here. This mill runs off the water from the canal and because of its historical significance, the canal was maintained to provide hydraulic power to make the mill run. Water comes into the front of the mill from the canal, and the water turns the mill’s turbine providing power. Water exits on the opposite side into the Maumee river. The canal is also operated by the Toledo Metroparks.

Since I was young, I have wanted to see the Miami & Erie canal restored in as many places as possible. Being able to ride this section of canal only made my dream more sought for. If you love canals and the role they played in Ohio’s history, please let me know and perhaps we can find a way to save the old locks and canal routes that remain!