Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Floating West: The Erie and Other American Canals

Floating West: The Erie and Other American Canals
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2846 more book reviews


In my readings of early America, I've often noted the mention of the New York Eire Canal and its impact upon our country. Yet, I never knew much about its construction or the necessary technological inventions required to make the canal such a success other states did their best to duplicate it.

Construction and technology were almost minor problems compared to the politics required to even begin the canal, let alone finish it. The canal also had tremendous sociological effects the planners never envisioned.

This was an easy book to read and the photographs included help me understand how complicated the project was. The only problem I had with it was that, despite growing up in this part of the country and taking numerous vacation trips through it, my family never spent any time visiting the Erie or other canals, some of which are now state and national parks. I wish we had.