Lockington Locks

Lockington Locks is a system of seven limestone structures built to raise and lower boats along a canal between Lockington and Washington Township. The structures remain largely intact and show how engineers solved the problem of moving boats across changing terrain.

Work on these locks began in 1833 and regular operations started in 1845 as part of the Miami and Erie Canal system. The canal was a major trade route that connected inland areas to larger markets during the 1800s.

The locks brought mills, shops, and workshops to the village of Lockington, shaping how the community developed. You can still see these buildings today, showing how the canal was central to local commerce.

You can visit and walk around the seven locks during daylight hours without paying an entrance fee. The site is easiest to explore when the ground is dry, which is typically from late spring through early fall.

The locks lifted boats to the canal's highest point, with each lock chamber constructed from massive limestone blocks that were individually fitted and placed. Workers had to precisely position these heavy stones by hand to create watertight chambers that could withstand constant use.