Lock No. 1, North New River Canal

Lock No. 1 is a navigational structure on the North New River Canal in Davie featuring thick concrete walls and wooden gates operated by a hand-crank mechanism. The installation forms part of Broward Memorial Lock Park and demonstrates the mechanical systems used to control water levels for boat passage.

This structure was built in 1912 and became the first major component of South Florida's inland waterway system. It opened routes for boat traffic that connected coastal areas with agricultural and inland communities.

The canal connected communities along South Florida's inland waterways to coastal trade routes. Today it represents the engineering ambition that shaped how the region developed and grew.

The lock is located within Broward Memorial Lock Park along State Road 84 in Davie and is open for visits. The site is easily reached by car and offers parking, making it convenient for anyone interested in exploring the canal's engineering history.

The lock operated through manual hand-cranking rather than modern hydraulics, requiring workers to turn a mechanical system to raise and lower the gates. This early engineering approach remains visible and helps visitors understand how waterway control was managed over a century ago.