Downtown in Rochester in Monroe County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Erie Canal

Photographed by Yugoboy, September 19, 2012

1. Erie Canal Marker

Inscription. Officially opened on October 26, 1825, the Erie Canal stretched 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo, connecting the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and the Port of New York. It carried thousands of pioneers from the east to Rochester and cut the cost of shipments east to Albany by 90 percent. The Canal prompted two of Rochester's nicknames: "The Young Lion of the West," and the "Flour City," because it shipped more flour in the 1840's than any other American city. The second Erie Canal aqueduct (1842) over the Genesee was recognized as an engineering feat. This aqueduct still exists today as the lower arched portion of the Broad Street Bridge, seen to the South.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Erie Canal series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 26, 1825.

Location. 43° 9.373′ N, 77° 36.602′ W. Marker is in Rochester, New York, in Monroe County. It is in Downtown. It is on Main Street 0.2 miles west of South Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rochester NY 14604, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Finger Lakes.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Genesee River (here, next to this marker);

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Main Street Bridge (a few steps from this marker); From Hunting Ground to City (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Mills and Races (within shouting distance of this marker); Front Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Austin Steward 1793-1869 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Granite Building (about 300 feet away); Historic Site in Journalism (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rochester.

Erie Canal Marker with Aqueduct in the Distance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Yugoboy, September 19, 2012

2. Erie Canal Marker with Aqueduct in the Distance

The bridge in the distance is the current Broad Street Bridge. The arches below the roadbed show the height of the former Erie Canal Aqueduct. Broad Street was constructed over the aqueduct when the Canal's route was moved south.

<i>Where the Erie Canal crosses the Genesee, Rochester, N.Y.</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Detroit Publishing Company, circa 1900

3. Where the Erie Canal crosses the Genesee, Rochester, N.Y.

This image, courtesy of the Library of Congress, shows where the Erie Canal crosses the Genessee River via the aqueduct. Note the aqueduct's lack of an upper level, which was added subsequently (see Photo 2).

Erie Canal Marker as seen facing East on Main St. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Yugoboy, September 19, 2012

4. Erie Canal Marker as seen facing East on Main St.

Erie Canal Marker as seen facing West on Main St. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Yugoboy, September 19, 2012

5. Erie Canal Marker as seen facing West on Main St.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2012, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. This page has been viewed 868 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 23, 2012, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. 3. submitted on January 8, 2013. 4, 5. submitted on December 23, 2012, by Yugoboy of Rochester, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.