James River and Kanawha Canal, Historic canal district in Richmond, Virginia.
The James River and Kanawha Canal is a restored waterway in Richmond that runs from the Great Ship Lock to Bosher's Dam, connecting multiple neighborhoods along the river. The waterway displays its original infrastructure with locks, dams, and paved paths where visitors can walk alongside the water.
George Washington founded the James River Company in 1785, creating the nation's first major canal for commerce between eastern and western Virginia. The canal operated for over a century before railroads and other transport methods eventually replaced it.
The canal was Richmond's trade lifeline and shaped the city's appearance with warehouses and wharves that visitors can still see today. The waterfront neighborhoods grew around this commerce, with working people moving goods that connected inland farms to distant markets.
The canal is easiest to explore in downtown Richmond, where the best paths are paved and clearly marked. Wear comfortable shoes and stroll along the waterfront passages, especially during warmer months when guided tours and boat rides are available.
The canal's original towpath for horse-drawn boats became the foundation for the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad's tracks, the very system that replaced canal travel. Visitors can trace this shift from water to rail transport as they walk where horses once pulled boats.
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