This fascinating book, based on current research, scrutinizes the Erie Canal and the pivotal role it played in shaping the economic, geographic, and political growth of New York State. Readers will explore the planning, building, and success of this historic canal. This book demonstrates how existing towns expanded and new towns grew along the canal. Readers are provided with a hands-on look at how the canal was built, the impact it had on commerce, how people use it today, and its far-reaching influence on the development of New York State. Primary sources, photographs, and maps help readers grasp the significance of the canal and the how it helped shaped New York State and the country.