Downtown in Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Anatomy of a Canal Lock

— Patterson Boulevard Canal Parkway —

Photographed by Craig Doda, July 5, 2025

1. Anatomy of a Canal Lock Marker

Inscription.
Canal locks constructed of wood or masonry helped boats negotiate a sudden rise or drop of the canal level.

A. Boat enters canal at lower level.

B. Gate at lower level is lowered.

C. Boat waits between gates.

D. Gate at upper level is raised and water level between gates is raised to that of upper level.

E. Upper level gate opened once water level is raised to its level, and boat enters upper level Ten minutes was considered to be a good locking time.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 39° 45.426′ N, 84° 11.272′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of South Patterson Boulevard and East 5th Street, on the right when traveling south on South Patterson Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 130 E 5th St, Dayton OH 45402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

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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: Aqueducts (here, next to this marker); Dayton and the Canal: Timeline (here, next to this marker); The Canal, by the Numbers (here, next to this marker); Towpaths (here, next to this marker); Bridges (here, next to this marker); The Canal and the Railroad (here, next to this marker); Constructing the Canal (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. Anatomy of a Canal Lock 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 80 times since then and 9 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.