Rev. 11-07

 

 

 

 

Kentucky

Cumberland River Navigation

Cumberland River
Description and history of the river, including the development of canals, beginning in the 1880s.

Cumberland River
Description and history of the river, including the development of canals, beginning in the 1880s.


Green River Canal

Green River
Link to a description of the canals constructed along the river.

Green River
Description and history of the river, including the development of canals, beginning in the 1840s. Map included.

Green and Barren Rivers
Description of the canals constructed along the Green River and its tributary, the Barren. Includes tonnage transported in 1903 and 1904.

History of Warren County, Kentucky
History of the county, including improvements to the rivers that led to development of the canals, and their role in the growth of the region.


Kentucky River Navigation

Kentucky River
Link to a brief history and description of the canals constructed along the river.

Kentucky River
History and description of the canals constructed along the river, as of 1906. Includes tonnage transported in 1902, 1903 and 1904.

Louisville District Lays Claim to Oldest Lock
History of the four locks constructed along the Kentucky River, between 1836 and 1842. Historical photos.

The River Museum
A brief history of the canals. Historical and current photos.


Louisville & Portland Canal

A Place in Time - Portland
A history of Portland and the effect of the canal on its development

Canal Completion Spurs City's Development
The impact of the canal on the development of the Louisville area.

Elevation and Sections of the Capstans, Gearing and Spool, New Locks of the Louisville & Portland Canal
An illustration of some of the equipment used on the canal, circa 1872.

Elevation and Sections of Well Hole of the Lowerlift Gate on North Side of the New Locks of the Louisville & Portland Canal
Engineering illustrations of the lock mechanism, after the canal was enlarged after the Civil War.

Falls of the Ohio, Indiana
A brief history of the falls, canal and dam. Current photos of the dam.

History of the Falls
History of the only falls along the entire length of the Ohio River, and a brief history of the canal.

Historical Sketches - The Canals of the United States
Abstracts from the United States Engineers' Reports, including the Louisville & Portland Canal and the Indiana Chute.

Louisville Canal and District, 1860-1900
History of the U.S. Army Louisville Engineer District, including the expansion of the canal during and after the Civil War. Historical photos, map and details of lock operation.

Louisville & Portland Canal
Historical significance and physical description.

McAlpine
A brief history of the canal.

McAlpine Lock and Canal
A brief history of the canal. Current photographs. Links to related sites.

Ohio Falls Canal
A brief history of the unsuccessful effort by Indiana to build a canal around the falls

Ohio Falls Canal
A brief history of unsuccessful efforts to build canals around the falls on the Indiana side of the river.

Portland, Louisville
History of one of the communities near Louisville which lost economic power when the canal eliminated the need to transship goods around the falls by land. Historical and current map.

Shippingport, Kentucky
History of another important transshipment community, which lost economic power when the canal was completed.

Subjects for Action by Congress: the Louisville and Portland Canal
An 1880 New York Times article about Congressional discussion regarding the elimination of tolls.

The McApline Locks & Dam
A brief history of the canal

Yesterday's Business in the House
An 1884 New York Times article about U.S. House of Representatives discussion regarding the Louisville and Portland Canal Bill.


Rough River Canal

Rough River Canal
A brief history of the canal. Includes tonnage transported between 1898 and 1904.

Rough River Canal
Link to a brief history.


Southern Route Canal

Southern Route
Link to a brief history and description of the canal system proposed but never constructed, as a shorter route to New Orleans than via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.