A Tale of two canals: I & m ~ I & M… waterways of history Illinois Department of Natural Resources George Bellovics ~ Regional Landscape Architect

A Tale of two canals: I & m ~ I & M… waterways of history Transformation into a Linear Park Development of the Bike Trails Trail Significance The Canals Today Today, we’ll explore the history of both canals…talk about their transformation into a linear park space…briefly discuss development of the bike trail on each as well as the significance of those trails today.

The Illinois & Michigan Canal.

Let’s first go back in history and see how events shaped the purpose and reasons for the canal…the War of 1812 raged on and many of the battles extended inland to the great lakes and the frontier land that would become Illinois….the lower picture depicts the massacre at Fort Dearborn where settlers were ravaged by native peoples and the fort was destroyed.

See note page.

The top map depicts railroads from1850 – including canals and waterways; the National road – circa 1840 and its significance. Transportation corridors were allowing people access to places. These elements were happening concurrent to the I & M canal, and eventually would lead to its demise.

The canal was narrow in todays standards, and like most all canals at the time utilized cut stone to create the lock chambers, with timber wooden lock doors relying on hydraulic pressure to regulate the water flow.

Only the second half of the canal’s lifetime did mechanized boats operate within the waterway…mules were the standard way most boats traversed the distance.

Okay…let’s now jump forward in time and talk about the I & M Canal today…

IDNR’s recreational trail is 60+ miles from the west side of Joliet to the confluence of the canal and the Illinois River at LaSalle. Much of the canal is waterless in the middle, with some flowing water in the east end and for a stretch of almost 4 miles on the west end.

Visitors at Lockport can still envision goods passing through the lock on its way southwest and beyond, or cycling along the towpath in Morris under the canopy of trees that previously shaded mules or watched canal boats drift by…

The trail at Channahan – atop the spillway for the Dupage River; along a scenic stretch from Morris and in the canal prism at Ottawa…

IDNR – through an ITEP project rehabilitated the historic Seneca Grain elevator, and for around ten years operated it as a District Biology office; a watered area near LaSalle and many small bridges are in place spanning small creeks and rills that intersect the canal.

Finally, the canal makes its way past Utica and onto LaSalle at Lock 14 where the Canal Association operates a historic canal boat complete with docent mule and tender. Lock 14 was restored in 1995 as part of an ITEP project, and many visitors enjoy their days along the canal.

The Illinois & Mississippi Canal. Now let’s move on to the other I & M Canal – colloquially known as the Hennepin Canal.

1871: Authorized by Congress 1892: Construction began 1907: First boat 1834 : Idea 1871: Authorized by Congress 1892: Construction began 1907: First boat 1930s: Commercial to recreational use 1951: Last boat 1971: Illinois takes ownership of the canal for recreational purposes. See slide – and notes page

A Description of the Canal First concrete canal Feeder canal Model for the Panama Canal National Register of Historic Places See notes page and slide

A Description of the Canal 33 Locks 14 Marshall gates 9 Aqueducts 84 Bridges See slide

It was quite the endeavor to construct the canal utilizing technology of the time…thus engineers sometimes created their way out of predicaments – mules in the peat soil lead to the drag steam shovel to overcome the problem.

All mechanized boats used the canal – with pleasure boats being the number one boat type over the operating life of the canal.

Many bridges can be found along the canal, including railroad bridges, lift bridges at locks 21 and 26, and Warren and modified Warren Truss bridges. Now only a few remain.

The Transformation into a Linear Park 1969 – Corps begins transfer to the State of Illinois Hennepin Canal Parkway Picnicking, camping, visitor center Fishing, hunting Boating, canoeing Hiking, biking, horseback riding Snowmobiling, cross country skiing See slide

Significance of the Trails 60-mile I&M Canal 20-mile Old Plank Road Trail 15-mile Kaskaskia Alliance Trail 62 mile Main Line Hennepin Trail 5-mile Union Trail 500-mile Grand Illinois Trail 6,800 American Discovery Trail

The Bike Trail Development 62 mile – Main line and 29 mile Feeder Canal 5 Separate Projects – Segments A, B, C, D and E $19.6 million– Federal TE and State Bike Path Funds The project essentially completed the feeder and main line canal trail from Rock Falls to Bureau Junction at Lock 2 to Colona at Lock 29.

The Bike Trail Development Trail Surface Culverts Canal Bank Stabilization The canal employs concrete, asphalt, oil & chip with an HFE binder and crushed limestone as trail surfaces.

The Bike Trail Development National Register Status Illinois Natural Area The Hennepin Canal is a National Register of Historic Places site and does contain Inventoried Natural Areas and a Nature Preserve.

Recreation For All Today, the Hennepin Canal is loved and used by over a million users annually, who pursue many forms of recreation…

The Tale of Two Canals: Continuing a Transportation Tradition

Questions?