Downtown in Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Dayton and the Canal: Timeline
| | Patterson Boulevard Canal Parkway | |
Photographed by Craig Doda, July 5, 2025
1. Dayton and the Canal: Timeline Marker
-1796: First settlement at the mouth of the Mad River.
-1805: Dayton incorporated, based upon the plat of proprietor Daniel C. Cooper.
-1812: Millrace constructed by soldiers camped at the Commons during the War of 1812.
-1828: Miami Canal opens in Dayton, basin located east of the Commons between First and Third streets.
-1833: Miami Erie Canal extended north across Mad River and constructed over the old millrace, aqueduct carries canal across river.
-1838: Cooper Hydraulic race constructed between Third and Fifth streets.
-1840: Mad River course between Miami River and aqueduct realigned south.
-1845: Basin Extension Canal constructed from canal basin toward Barney and Smith Car Works to the northeast, Miami Erie Canal completed, providing access to Lake Erie.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812 • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.
Location. 39° 45.426′ N, 84° 11.271′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of South Patterson Boulevard and East
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Miami Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. 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: Towpaths (here, next to this marker); Aqueducts (here, next to this marker); The Canal, by the Numbers (here, next to this marker); Bridges (here, next to this marker); Anatomy of a Canal Lock (here, next to this marker); Constructing the Canal (here, next to this marker); The Canal and the Railroad (here, next to this marker); The Oregon District (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.
Photographed by Craig Doda, July 5, 2025
2. Dayton and the Canal: Timeline Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 99 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
