Lockport, County seat on Erie Canal in Niagara County, New York State, United States.
Lockport sits along the Niagara Escarpment and uses a natural drop in elevation to manage water flow through the canal. The town developed around a system of locks that were built to handle this slope.
The town was founded in 1824 when the Erie Canal arrived, and took shape with the completion of a five-lock system in 1825. This system solved the challenge of moving boats up and down the natural slope.
Scottish and Irish workers who built the canal settled here and created close-knit communities that shaped local traditions. You can still see this heritage reflected in the character and spirit of the town today.
The Canal Discovery Center near the locks offers exhibits and programs that explain how the canal system works. You can walk along the waterway to see the locks in operation and understand the engineering.
The original five locks from 1825 still work as a spillway next to the modern locks E34 and E35 built in 1918. Walking past both structures shows how engineering solutions evolved over nearly a century.
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