We have been navigating the Erie Barge Canal for the past 4 days now, and it has been a “historic” journey. Back in the early 1800’s, most goods were transported by pack animals since there were not yet motorized vehicles or even railroads; hard to fathom in our day and age. (I can imagine 200 years from now, people will be reading about how we used “roads” and “waterways” to move things across the country because we didn’t have teleportation…ha ha!) The idea of using water to transport goods was a cost effective and more efficient system and as early as 1780, the first proposal of a man-made canal for shipping was put forth. The original 363 mile long Erie Barge Canal was finally started in 1817 in Rome, NY and was completed in 1825. The
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