The James River & Kanawha Canal

In the first half of the 19th century, while roads were poor and railroads in their infancy, moving goods and people by water was the most practical solution. Improvements to the James River, to facilitate navigation by bateaux boats, were made as early as 1771. Bateaux were simple, long boats made of rough wood, propelled by poles that could carry several tons of cargo.

Route of the James River and Kanawha Canal with elevations

To expand the use of the James River for larger boats, planning began in 1785 for building a canal. A canal is a body of water beside a river. Its width, depth and water flow are controlled. A pathway parallel to the canal allows for mules or horses to pull the boats with a tow line. This was referred to as a “tow path.” Boats go through “locks” to safely go up or down areas where elevation changes. In some places the river was dammed to create “slack water” where the boats would navigate that rather than a separate parallel canal route.

The canal’s 1785 charter had the purpose of building a canal for bateaux around the Falls of the James west of Richmond, through Richmond to the Tidewater area. A secondary purpose of the charter was to improve navigation of the James as far west as practicable. The section to Tidewater was completed in 1791. An interim project for bateaux, completed in 1826, was the Blue Ridge Canal, a series of locks around Balcony Falls in Rockbridge County. In 1835 canal work began beyond Richmond to Lynchburg. The James River and Kanawha Canal reached Buchanan in 1851 whereupon canal boats for freight and packet boats for passengers and mail could navigate the entire distance.

Photo of a typical canal freight boat

The James River and Kanawha Canal here shown east of the Blue Ridge.

The James River and Kanawha Canal was at the mercy of periodic floods which caused breaches in the canal walls. Ice in winter would cause a shutdown of the canal. Dry summers could prove difficult to maintain proper water level. These issues, along with the high cost to build and maintain the canal, were on-going financial challenges. Much work was delayed over the years due to lack of funds. However, as the canal opened in stages it proved to be financially successful and it created opportunity for farmers and mining operations to ship their products to Lynchburg and Richmond with finished goods on the return trip to Buchanan. The ability for people to travel between towns and cities on the canal created additional opportunities.

In 1851 planning and construction for the final division of the canal to the Ohio River got underway while the feasibility of a rail line as an alternative was considered. In 1856 construction above Buchanan ended with 10 locks and several culverts completed, some of which remain today on private property. In 1877 a flood crippled the canal but it was rebuilt. In 1880 the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad was formed to take over the canal and lay track from Richmond to Clifton Forge on the tow path. In 1881 the first through train service began and the James River and Kanawha canal was shut down.

While the eastern U.S. and Midwest were home to many canals, the advent of the railroad with its speed and efficiency ended the canal era.

James River & Kanawha Canal Timeline

1785 Charter for the first James River Company.

Construct a canal for bateaux around the Falls of the James, through Richmond to Tidewater and to improve navigation as far west as practicable. (It was agreed later that the upstream improvements would terminate at Looney’s Ferry (just upstream from Buchanan.)

1812 A survey was developed to consider improvements on the upper James and making a connection across the mountains to the Kanawha River in what is now West Virginia.

1812 Establishment of the Virginia Board of Public Works to take charge of road building, canal building, river development and creation of railroads.

1820 The state takes over the James River Company.

1825 Completion of the Erie Canal in New York bolstered further interest in canals elsewhere.

1826 Blue Ridge Canal opened a series of locks to provide navigation for bateaux around Balcony Falls in Rockbridge County.

1832 The state-owned company was not making progress so state legislator Joseph Cabell led an effort to create the James River and Kanawha Company.

1835 Work began 28 miles north of Richmond (above where the first, lower canal section had been built) on the “First Grand Division” to Lynchburg.

1838 Though the first division was not finished, planning for the second division to Buchanan began.

1839 First Grand Division of the canal completed to Lynchburg.

1851 Second Grand Division of the canal completed to Buchanan.

1851 Planning and construction for the Third Grand Division to the Ohio River got underway while the feasibility of a rail line as an alternative was considered.

1856 Construction above Buchanan ends with 10 locks and several culverts completed, some of which remain today on private property.

1877 A flood crippled the canal though it was rebuilt.

1880 The Richmond and Alleghany Railroad was formed to take over the canal and lay track from Richmond to Clifton Forge.

1881 First through train service began and the canal was shut down.

Painting of a typical packet boat (passenger boat) on the canal