Piqua in Miami County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lock Nine

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 6, 2009

1. Lock Nine Marker

Inscription. Completed in 1837, the limestone lock nine served as a catalyst for the growth of Piqua. The lock helped connect the village to Cincinnati (1837) and Toledo (1845) by way of the Miami and Erie Canal. German immigrants traveled up the canal from Cincinnati and settled within a five-block area of the lock. Industries used the lock as a source of water power and developed products as diverse as flannel, flour, and flax seed. Lock nine remained as a functioning part of the canal until its destruction during the flood of 1913.

Erected 1999 by City of Piqua and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 5-55.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection, and the The Miami & Erie Canal series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 40° 8.837′ N, 84° 14.289′ W. Marker was in Piqua, Ohio, in Miami County. It was at the intersection

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of East Water Street (U.S. 36) and Spring Street (U.S. 36), on the left when traveling west on East Water Street. Marker is in the Lock Nine Park, about 100 feet SW of the intersection of Water Street and Spring St. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 125 E Water St, Piqua OH 45356, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Ohio’s Dayton Metro,

in the Miami Valley,

and in the Till Plains.

It was also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 location: Lock Nine Riverfront Park (a few steps from this marker); Shawnee Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Main Street (about 400 feet away); Public Square (about 500 feet away); Capt. Don Gentile (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 11, 2010

2. Lock Nine Marker

View of historical marker looking east along the north bank of the Great Miami River.

Shawnee Bridge (about 600 feet away); The Mills Brothers (about 700 feet away); Piqua Veterans Memorial (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Piqua.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The 1913 Flood (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 11, 2010

3. Lock Nine Marker

View looking south of the historical marker at Lock Nine Park, with a view in the background of the Great Miami River and a bridge spanning the river.

Lock Nine Riverfront Park and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 6, 2009

4. Lock Nine Riverfront Park and Marker

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 11, 2010

5. Lock Nine

View looking south of the original site of the canal lock 9, and the south entrance to the lock.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, July 11, 2010

6. Lock Nine

View at Lock 9 Park, looking north at the partially reconstructed canal Lock 9.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,445 times since then and 138 times this year. Last updated on June 17, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on March 22, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on January 23, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 3. submitted on January 22, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 4. submitted on March 22, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on January 23, 2011, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.