Indiana Central Canal

The Indiana Central Canal was a never-completed canal intended to create a connection between the Wabash & Erie Canal and the Ohio River.







The Indiana Central Canal was an ambitious but never-completed 296-mile canal intended to create a direct connection between the Wabash & Erie Canal in Peru, Indiana, and the Ohio River in Evansville via Indianapolis.

History

The canal’s route was surveyed by Jesse Williams, a state canal engineer, and most of the land required for construction was already acquired by the state. 4 The canal was designed to be six feet deep and 60 feet wide.

The canal was divided into three sections: 4

  • Northern Division: Extending from the Wabash & Erie Canal in Peru to Broad Ripple, primarily surveyed by William Goody. This division was planned to follow the Mississinewa River to Alexandria before running parallel to the White River.
  • Indianapolis Division: Spanning from Broad Ripple to Port Royal.
  • Southern Division: Running from Port Royal (now Waverly) to Evansville, primarily surveyed by Francis Cleveland.

Financing

The project was funded by Indiana’s Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, part of a broader national push for infrastructure inspired by the success of the Erie Canal. The state allocated $3.5 million for the canal, but the economic Panic of 1837 led to financial collapse, forcing the state to turn the canal over to its creditors. 3

Construction

Originally planned as a two-section project (North and South Divisions), the Indianapolis Division was later added. However, only eight miles of the planned 296 miles between Peru and Evansville were completed, entirely within the Indianapolis Division. 4

The Indianapolis Division began in Broad Ripple, following the White River south to downtown Indianapolis. 4 Construction began in 1836 and was halted in 1839 due to a lack of funding. It included the construction of an aqueduct over Fall Creek, which proved problematic to maintain and required constant maintenance and replacement.

In the Northern Division, an additional 80 miles between Anderson and Martinsville were partially graded, as were 20 miles in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties. 4

Other Uses

Though limited for navigation, the canal became an essential water and power source for Indianapolis. In 1869, the Water Works Company of Indianapolis was formed, and ownership of the canal was transferred to the company in 1870. 1 By the 1880s, the Indianapolis Water Company took over after the Water Works Company failed. The canal’s water drove turbines that powered city water pumps.

In 1904, the Indianapolis Water Company used the canal to supply water to its purification plant. 6 By the late 1960s, Interstate 65 construction forced part of the canal underground, and the canal ceased serving as a power source for the West Washington Street pumping station in 1969.

The American Water Works Association designated the canal an American Water Landmark in 1971. 2 In 1976, the Indianapolis Water Company transferred ownership of the canal south of 16th Street to the city. In 1985, Indianapolis undertook a major project to restore and lower the downtown canal. 5 Part of the restored canal is now in White River State Park.

In 2011, ownership of the canal north of downtown passed to Citizens Energy Group. 2

Today, the Indianapolis Canal Walk stretches from White River State Park to 11th Street. In another area, the Central Canal Towpath runs along a section of the canal between Burdsal Parkway and Broad Ripple.


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Sources

  1. Fujawa, Ed. “Water Over Water: The History of the Fall Creek Aqueduct.” Class 900: Indianapolis, 8 Apr. 2022.
  2. Fall Creek Aqueduct.” Indiana Historical Society.
  3. Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Indiana and Indianans. Chicago: American Historical Society, 1919, p. 415.
  4. Tenuth, Jeffrey. Indianapolis: A Circle City History, p. 43.
  5. “The history of Indianapolis’ downtown canal.” WRTV Indianapolis, 20 Sept. 2018.
  6. Indianapolis Water Company.” Indianapolis Public Library.

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