I & M Canal (A Corridor In Time)

Dear Researcher:

Welcome to the Lewis University Illinois and Michigan Canal World Wide Web Home Page!

The Canal and Regional History Collection is part of the University Library and houses a large collection of books, manuscripts, photographs, and maps relating to the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the areas, towns, and activities it influenced in Illinois. The collection also houses material about other American canals.

The Illinois and Michigan Canal although envisaged in 1673 as a waterway to connect the Great Lakes and the Mississippi was not completed until 1848. In the period from 1820 to 1860, it was a major factor influencing Northern Illinois’ settlement and economic development. During the post-Civil War period it was the major transportation carrier of agricultural and other bulk products to Chicago and the Mississippi. During the 20th century the canal’s importance as a commercial carrier declined. However, that was replaced by its importance as a recreational asset. This was born out by President Reagan’s signature in 1984 of the Illinois and Michigan National Heritage Corridor Act. This was the first such corridor to be established with others following in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. In 1998 the Sesquicentennial will be celebrated up and down the corridor beginning in April at Navy Pier and ending in April 1999 in LaSalle County. Between those dates the 40 communities along the corridor will hold a variety of celebration.

This collection of photographs covers the period from 1860 to 1900 depicting people, the boats, locks, and other structures during the time when the canal saw the heaviest commercial use. The collection also records the canal’s subsequent use for recreation. In the early 20th century picnickers on barges are shown going down the canal for a weekend in the country. There are also photographs that record the Civil Conservation Corp’s (CCC) camps and restoration projects on the Canal in the 1930s. During the Depression one of the largest projects in the State was restoration of locks, building picnic shelters, and the Starved Rock Lodges as part of Governor Horner’s program in conjunction with the National Park Service to create an Illinois and Michigan State Parkway from Chicago to LaSalle for hikers, canoeists, and tourists. Though ambitious program was stalled after World War II, the collection shows the continued use of the canal by hikers and others. Usage increased after 1970 when the Department of Conservation established the Illinois and Michigan State Trail.

This photograph collection is the largest existing pictorial record of the history of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. No other museum or library has these photographs. The collection houses a larger collection of maps, books, and documents relating to canals and Northern Illinois history. The collection is usually open Monday through Thursday from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., however it is recommended you call 815-838-0500 extension 5529 before visiting.

Thank you to the Illinois State Library for providing the funds to make this collection available to grade, high school and university students all over the world.

Sincerely,

John Lamb

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