Waterfront in Buffalo in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Buffalo - A Network of Canals

Sail Lofts, Stables, Grain Elevators, Brothels, Saloons

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

1. Buffalo - A Network of Canals Marker

Inscription. Commercial Slip connected the Buffalo River to the Erie Canal mainline, 100 yards northeast of this site. It marked the original terminus of the Erie Canal, but was soon joined by many other artificial waterways around Buffalo Harbor. As commerce blossomed, shippers, millers, grain merchants, and land speculators cut dozens of slips, channels, side cuts, basins, and small canals so that lake and canal boats could reach warehouses and elevators to be loaded and unloaded.

Buffalo developed around this busy network of canals and slips. Three- and four-story wood and brick buildings crowded the area, serving the needs of commerce and workers. These housed sail lofts, ship chandler's shops, stables, warehouses, grocers, wholesale merchants, hotels, brothels, saloons and tenements. The canal district had much of the character of a frontier boomtown - pervasive lawlessness, quickly-made (and quickly lost) fortunes, and poor living conditions.
Buffalo Harbor ca. 1855. Intense traffic on the Erie Canal between Erie and Genessee Streets, ca. 1880.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Erie Canal series list.

Location. 42° 52.646′ N, 78° 52.716′ W. Marker

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is in Buffalo, New York, in Erie County. It is in Waterfront. It is at the intersection of Lloyd Street and Marine Drive, on the right when traveling south on Lloyd Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Buffalo NY 14202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and specifically in Western New York.

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 Viceroyalty of New France,

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: Buffalo - An Industrial Powerhouse (here, next to this marker); The Big Picture (a few steps from this marker); The Ruins at Canalside (within shouting distance of this marker); Buffalo Riverfront Historical Eras to 1930 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Grand Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); Buffalo - Queen City of the Lakes (within shouting distance of this marker); Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (within shouting distance of this marker); "Buffalo" Balloon (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo.

Text with Picture Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

2. Text with Picture Panel

Lower Picture Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

3. Lower Picture Panel

Back of Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

4. Back of Marker

Lloyd Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

5. Lloyd Street

This is the left of a pair of markers situated like open double doors. The elevated highway is The Skyway, NY Route 5. Note the old grain elevator in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 685 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 2, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.