Cuyahoga Falls in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Cuyahoga River

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, October 16, 2014

1. Cuyahoga River Marker

Inscription. For thousands of years, Native Americans followed a north-south trade route through here. The Cuyahoga River allowed travel by canoe to an eight-mile portage trail to the south-flowing Tuscarawas River, which eventually led to the Ohio River.

Though the river routes were shallow, they were suitable for the needs of Native Americans and early explorers and traders. However, settlers and farmers, who needed a safe and dependable way to take their products to market, found the swift spring currents treacherous.

The solution of the early 1800s, the Ohio & Erie Canal, generally followed the same ancient river routes.

Caption: “The Indian Canoe — Upper Cuyahoga Valley” by Marc Moon

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Ohio and Erie Canal series list.

Location. 41° 11.429′ N, 81° 34.537′ W. Marker is in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in Summit County. It can be reached from the intersection of Riverview Road and Ira Road. Marker is along the Ohio

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& Erie Canal Towpath Trail, approximately 1,500 feet north of the Beaver Marsh Boardwalk Viewpoint. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Akron OH 44313, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lock 26 (approx. 0.4 miles away); From Salvage Yard to Beaver Marsh (approx. 0.6 miles away); Welcome to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ohio & Erie Canalway (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Growing up in Everett (approx. ¾ mile away); Jonathan Hale Homestead (approx. 0.9 miles away); Hale, Hammond, Cranz Homesteads (approx. 0.9 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 427 times since then and 18 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.