The Erie Canal was constructed in three historic stages:  The orginal canal, 1817-1825; the enlarged canal; 1835-1862; the New York State Barge Canal System (Erie Canal division) 1905-1918.  Here in lockport the present day Erie Canal follows basically the same course as the orginal and enlarged 19th century canals.

To overcome the great elevation of the Niagara Escarpment, the orginal canal builders constructed a unique flight of five double locks to lower easterly and raise westerly bound boats some sixty feet.  The orginal locks of 1825 were replaced by a larger flight of double locks, constructed between 1836 and 1847.  These locks were numbered 67 to 71.  The enlarged combined locks were replaced by Lock 34 and 35 of the Barge Canal Improvement between 1910 and 1914.  The old Lockport flight of five and Locks 34/35, provide splended examples of the historic evolution of the New York State Canals in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Both of the next views are of Lock 35

This is a view of Lock 35 looking towards Lock 34 and Lockport

This is a view of Lock 35 looking towards Buffalo