A “little short of madness.” That is how Thomas Jefferson responded when two delegates from New York approached him with the idea to build the Erie Canal in January 1809.
Jefferson’s comment did not discourage New Yorkers. On January 4, 1817, New York State began building a 363-mile long canal to link the Hudson River and Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes and the Midwest.
In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World, Janice Fontanella, site manager of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter, New York, joins us to discuss the Erie Canal, its construction, and the impact that this waterway made on New York and the United States.
You can listen to the podcast here.
Ben Franklin’s World is an award-winning podcast. It’s for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our world. Each episode features an interview with a historian who shares their unique insights into our early American past. It is a production of the Omohundro Institute.
You are seeing this podcast announcement courtesy of The New York History Blog. For a full list of this week’s podcasts click HERE. And while you’re here – we rely on small contributions from readers like you to publish news and information about history in New York York State. Make a contribution now at our fundraising page at https://rally.org/f/4LBVKo9zYjO or send a check to: New York History Blog, 7269 State Route 9, Chestertown, NY 12817.
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