Niagara Falls - 2009
Rich and Carol travelled to the Niagara Falls area because Rich had to make a presentation to the Eastern District – LCMS.
While they were there, they visited a good friend, Ruth Muck, who showed them the Falls and the Erie Canal.
They visited the Three Sisters Island group, Horseshoe Falls, and Luna Island to see the American and Bridal Veil Falls.
A special treat was taking the Cave of the Wind tour and climbing the steps at the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls.
A highlight was not only seeing the Erie Canal, but driving under it at the Medina Culvert.
While they were there, they visited a good friend, Ruth Muck, who showed them the Falls and the Erie Canal.
They visited the Three Sisters Island group, Horseshoe Falls, and Luna Island to see the American and Bridal Veil Falls.
A special treat was taking the Cave of the Wind tour and climbing the steps at the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls.
A highlight was not only seeing the Erie Canal, but driving under it at the Medina Culvert.
The Falls Area
Erie Canal
The Medina Culvert
Originally built in 1823, the culvert method was chosen carefully. Because the canal runs along kind of a berm in this section, it made north to south passage tough.
The drop from the towpath down to the road is about 20 feet or so. Because of that drop, any bridge would have needed to be much higher so boats could pass under. Any bridge that tall would have to begin far beyond each side of the canal. Otherwise, the pitch would have to be really steep.
After a lot of engineering and consideration, going under by way of a culvert ultimately became the best solution.
Though many New Yorkers still refer to the famous waterway as “The Erie Canal”, it would later give way to its new name ‘The New York State Barge Canal ‘as it was widened and, in some places, remapped in 1905. This culvert was given proper treatment in 1906 to allow for the widened waterway.
Today it still remains the only place on the entire canal system where you can freely pass under the canal. Or, should you want to, there are sidewalks on each side so you could walk it.
Though there is constant water dripping from the ceiling of the tunnel, it’s looking pretty good for being 190 years old! (Sorce: exploringupstate.com/the-medina-culvert-medina-ny/)
Carol and Rich were excited to drive through the culvert under the Erie Canal.
The drop from the towpath down to the road is about 20 feet or so. Because of that drop, any bridge would have needed to be much higher so boats could pass under. Any bridge that tall would have to begin far beyond each side of the canal. Otherwise, the pitch would have to be really steep.
After a lot of engineering and consideration, going under by way of a culvert ultimately became the best solution.
Though many New Yorkers still refer to the famous waterway as “The Erie Canal”, it would later give way to its new name ‘The New York State Barge Canal ‘as it was widened and, in some places, remapped in 1905. This culvert was given proper treatment in 1906 to allow for the widened waterway.
Today it still remains the only place on the entire canal system where you can freely pass under the canal. Or, should you want to, there are sidewalks on each side so you could walk it.
Though there is constant water dripping from the ceiling of the tunnel, it’s looking pretty good for being 190 years old! (Sorce: exploringupstate.com/the-medina-culvert-medina-ny/)
Carol and Rich were excited to drive through the culvert under the Erie Canal.
Images from Google Earth