James River & Kanawha Canal, Locks 1-5, Tenth to Thirteenth Streets, north of Canal Street, Richmond, Independent City, Virginia

Significance: From the late eighteenth century until the 1880s, an important and far-flung canal system gradually emerged on the Richmond scene. Envisioned by George Washington and others, the canal system eventually included over 200 miles of canal as well as a steamboat route on the Kanawha River and a turnpike over the Alleghany Mountains. During the nineteenth century, it was to play an important role in the economic and social life of Virginia. In Richmond, the agricultural produce of the James River valley was brought and unloaded for marketing or was transported to the docks for shipment along the coast or abroad. The canals also carried manufactured goods from Richmond for distribution throughout the state and transported passengers to their homes or to the West.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-9

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1396

Survey number: HAER VA-23

Building/structure dates: ca. 18t4 Initial Construction

locks hydraulic facilities james river kanawha kanawha canal locks thirteenth thirteenth streets canal street richmond virginia justine christianson historic american engineering record george washington ultra high resolution high resolution manufacturing plants social life library of congress

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

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