The erie canal gateway to empire edited by barbara k and warren s walker boston heath 1963 description x 113 pages folded map 24 cm subjects erie canal ny history sources more information about this title series selected source materials for college research papers selected source materials for college research papers a879880 lccn 63023605 available items . Erie canal historic waterway of the united states connecting the great lakes with new york city via the hudson river at albany the canal 363 miles 584 km long was the first canal in the united states to connect western waterways with the atlantic ocean learn more about the canal including its construction. Many people doubted the erie canal project would succeed because the canal would be significantly bigger than anything attempted before benson brannen and valentine 515 519 sheriff describes peoples doubt saying the prospect of a 363 mile canal seemed hopelessly impractical to even some enlightened minds 251 253 the largest canal in the united states at the time was 27 miles