Enlarged Double Lock No. 23, Old Erie Canal, Canal lock in Rotterdam, United States.
Enlarged Double Lock No. 23 is a historic canal lock on the Old Erie Canal in Schenectady, New York, built from limestone blocks. The structure features two connected chambers with a central pier that regulated water levels between different sections of the canal.
Built between 1841 and 1842, this lock was part of the First Enlargement project that expanded the Erie Canal to handle more traffic. The new construction allowed larger vessels to pass through the waterway, supporting growing commerce in the region.
The lock represents early American engineering achievements, demonstrating the advanced construction methods used in developing the Erie Canal transportation network.
The site is accessible through walking and biking paths that connect to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail system, making it easy to visit on foot or by bicycle. The surrounding green spaces provide a pleasant way to explore this section of the old canal corridor.
Students from Union College built a detailed replica of a locktender's hut at the site between 2000 and 2003, recreating the small dwelling where canal workers would have lived. This reconstruction provides insight into the daily lives of those who operated the lock.
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