Photo: Bronze map of the "Stages of Canal and Turnpike Construction."

Photographer: Bernard Fisher
Caption: Bronze map of the "Stages of Canal and Turnpike Construction."
Additional Description: 1 1789
Canals were completed by the James River Company around two portions of the James River falls. One extended approximately 3 miles from what is now the Byrd Park Pump House to downtown Richmond. The second ran for 200 yards below present-day Williams Island.

2 1795
The canal became operational for 7 miles, from Westham to 8th Street in downtown Richmond.

3 1825
An extension was completed to Maiden’s Adventure, 30 miles west of Richmond.

4 1840
The James River and Kanawha Company, having replaced the James River Company in 1835, opened a 147-mile canal connecting Richmond to Lynchburg.

5 1851
A canal replacing the old Blue Ridge canal structures was completed, running 47½ miles between Lynchburg and Buchanan.

6 1820s
The link to the Ohio River was made by a 200-mile turnpike and a navigation system on the Kanawha River.
Submitted: October 28, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
Database Locator Identification Number: p82462
File Size: 0.224 Megabytes

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