Old Aqueduct at Kiwanis Park

Old Aqueduct at Kiwanis Park. . , New York State Canal System , National Historic Landmark 2016 , When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, it was celebrated as a modern engineering marvel. In many places, the 363-mile canal was dug by hand, requiring constant ingenuity to traverse challenging terrain. Locks were designed to handle big elevation changes, while aqueducts (like the one you see here) allowed the canal to flow-uninterrupted-over rivers and other waterways. , An aqueduct was first built here in 1825, crossing the Plotter Kill Creek. Known as "Van Slycks" or "Flat Stone Creek" aqueduct, it was replaced in 1840. The success of the Erie Canal demanded a larger version to handle more boat traffic. Canal aqueducts were designed with an arched stone bridge for the towpath to cross, next to stone pilings that supported a wooden trough where canal water flowed. , In July, 1891, a storm caused catastrophic damage, carrying away large parts of the aqueduct and forcing the canal to close for days. Rebuilt again, it would become obsolete by 1915, when the aqueduct was bypassed by the even larger Barge Canal, built into the Mohawk River., Today, you are traveling across a piece of history, using aqueduct remains to follow New York's Empire State Trail., The original Erie Canal included 18 aqueducts. With its success, the canal was eventually enlarged, and 32 more stone and wood structures were built. The remains of a much larger aqueduct can be seen about 10 miles east along the trail, where the Rexford Aqueduct once carried the enlarged canal across the Mohawk River.