Millersport Canal Channel

Canal Channel Bridge in Millersport
Millersport, OH 43046

Open 24 Hours
Free

Millersport Canal Channel

The original canal channel is visible from the bridge on Lancaster Street in the business district of Millersport This channel connected the Licking Reservoir, now Buckeye Lake (the man-made lake that provided a source of water for the canal) and the Deep Cut portion of the canal located just west of Millersport. “Deep Cut at the Licking Summit,” an Ohio Historical marker, is located next to the bridge.

The original canal channel is visible from the bridge on Lancaster Street in the business district of Millersport This channel connected the Licking Reservoir, now Buckeye Lake (the man-made lake that provided a source of water for the canal) and the Deep Cut portion of the canal located just west of Millersport. “Deep Cut at the Licking Summit,” an Ohio Historical marker, is located next to the bridge.

After southbound canal boats crossed the Licking Reservoir (Buckeye Lake today), they re-entered the canal at the reservoir’s southwest end. Here in Millersport the canal at various times was lined with commercial establishments, warehouses, and fishing shanties. The canal ditch was called the “prism” due to the wedge shape formed by its wide surface, slanted banks, and narrow bottom; the towpath here was along the south side. Canal Street, today Lancaster Street, once crossed the canal on a wooden covered bridge. The canal through Millersport now is narrower but looks much as it did in the period when it operated – except, of course, that the canal-oriented businesses are gone, the banks have been built up and stabilized, and the towpath is no longer apparent. This part of the old canal, however, is quite busy during warm weather, providing mooring for private boats and easy access to Buckeye Lake. Just west of the bridge the canal ran beneath a railroad bridge and then turned from a southwest orientation to directly south and entered a remarkable example of 19th century engineering skill and a symbol of the immense amount of human labor required to build the canal – the Deep Cut. Because the cut is almost entirely on private property and the road along its west side has no safe place to stop, the best viewing point is from the cemetery at the west end of Mill Street here in Millersport.

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Notes for Travelers

On-street parking is available in the Millersport business district. The canal channel is visible from both the bridge and sidewalk on Canal Road, which borders the south side of the channel. It is also visible from some of the businesses in the area.



Credits

Jeff Darbee, Nancy Recchie, David Meyer

Additional Resources

Meyer, David. Life Along the Ohio Canal – Licking Reservoir to Lockbourne and Columbus Feeder

Meyer, David. Life Along the Ohio Canal in the Scioto River Valley

The Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society Museum is located at 4729 Walnut Road, Buckeye Lake 43005. http://www.millersportohio.com/history