The I&M Canal

The 96 mile ditch known as the Illinois & Mich- igan Canal is the Erie Canal of the great Midwest. It was opened in 1848 and helped make Chicago the giant city of the heartland and Illinois the most populous inland state. It was built to link the Great Lakes to the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Originally, it was 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep, with 15 locks to assist barges in navigating differences in elevations. The barges were pulled by mules or horses led along the towpath. The Canal was closed in 1933 when the Illinois Waterway was completed.

Lock 16, LaSalle, Illinois

After years of economic decline and neglect, concerned citizens wanted to restore it as a historical park. In 1984 President Reagan signed a bill authorizing the establishment of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor.

Today, visitors can use 61.5 miles of the towpath, from Rockdale to LaSalle for hiking, picnics, backpack camping at designated sites, fishing, canoeing, snowmobiling and bicycling. There are four state parks along the canal.

At LaSalle, there is a full-size replica canal boat at Lock 16 that offers leisurely guided cruises pulled by a mule. The rope from boat to mule was so long it made it difficult to get a picture of both together.