Canal Street

Canal Street. . , From Lockport's earliest days, Canal Street was a hub of activity providing services for travelers, workers, and the local community. Over the years, the street was home to hotels, saloons, livery stables, carriage makers, and barbers, eventually giving way to light industry. Today's Canal Street is a popular gathering place for locals and tourists., Traffic , The canal's opening proved an instant success. Goods were now able to move across the state in half the time and for one-tenth the cost. The revenues from traffic and tolls paid off the $7 million in construction debt by 1837., Cargo , Shipments on the canal from Lockport included local agricultural and manufactured goods. The city's abundance of stone was also quarried and transported on the waterway for use in buildings from New York City to Chicago., Ideas , The Erie Canal carried more than cargo. It also carried people who brought their ideas, innovations, and social movements westward and is often referred to as the internet of its day., Visit the Locks District Museum at the base of the locks for the complete story., (Caption):, Boat locking through westbound Flight of Five locks heading towards Buffalo, photo courtesy of Niagara County Historical Museum