Our History

The Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal
- a brief history

 

(Photo above is of the restoration in 1982)


Construction on the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal was begun in 1836 and completed in 1840. The 45 miles of canal ran from Wrightsville, PA to the top of the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, MD. It interconnected with nearly 4,000 miles of other canals throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States and opened central Pennsylvania to convenient trade with Philadelphia and Baltimore. A total of 29 locks, 19 in Pennsylvania and 10 in Maryland, raised or lowered canal boats a total of 233 feet to compensate for the elevation difference.


The boats were pulled by mules. Lumber, farm products, and especially coal were the primary cargoes transported via the canal during its heyday in the 1860s and 1870s. 


With the advent of the railroad, the role of canals began to decline. Railroads were faster, cheaper to maintain, and could operate year round. In fact, the Reading Railroad acquired the canal in the 1870s, eventually selling it to an agent of the Philadelphia Electric Company in 1902 for the future construction of the Conowingo Dam. Thus ended the active life of the S&T Canal and the canal era in Havre de Grace.


For the next 70 years, the building and grounds, owned by Philadelphia Electric, rented the house as apartments.  The power company leased the property to the City of Havre de Grace in 1970.  At that point, a group of dedicated and tenacious volunteers took over the historic building from the City and incorporated themselves as the home of the Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace - a museum dedicated to the history of the City.


In 1982 the building received funding and underwent significant restoration and officially opened to the public.


Finally, in 2020, the museum changed its mission to reflect what the museum was best known for - the history Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal.  Since then, with a narrowed and focused mission, the museum has begun upgrading its exhibits and has re-branded itself as  the museum of the entire S&T Canal telling the stories of people, politics, and economics along its 45 mile stretch.

   

The Lock House

While the canal was in operation (1840 – 1890s), the lock house, built in 1840, served ably in its dual roles of providing a residence for the lock tender and his family and an office for the toll collector. A brick two-story building about 30 feet deep and 37 feet long, it was nearly twice the size of the other lock houses on the canal. It is of the late Greek revival style reflecting the latest fashion of the time.

After canal operations ceased around 1900, it served as a rental property for about 70 years at which time the property was leased to the city by the Philadelphia Electric Company for museum purposes. In turn, the city agreed to allow the Susquehanna Museum organization to become the caretakers of the building and to restore it so that the history of the canal and Havre de Grace could be told. Extensive archaeological studies were conducted and the house was restored. In 1979, the electric company deeded the building and approximately 7 acres surrounding the Lock House to the city. In 1982 the building was rededicated and opened to the public as The Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace at the Lock House. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the seven acres of North Park containing the Lock House and the canal lock are designated an historic area.

_______________________________________________________________

New Mission adopted 2020

To showcase the impact of the Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal on the region by expanding and preserving the historic collection. Create a memorable and stimulating experience through oral and visual demonstrations depicting life along our canal during the 19th century.
Share by: