Lincoln Landing Curriculum Unit

An introductory lesson about the Illinois & Michigan Canal and the

Lincoln Landing site

Illinois: 1600’s – 1700’s

• Beautiful prairie land, ideal for agriculture

• Potawatomi Indians lived in northern Illinois area. Their homes were called wigwams.

• They enjoyed the rich soil, abundant wildlife and the rivers of Illinois.

Father Jacques Marquette

& Louis Joliet explored Illinois

• Traveled from Green Bay, Wisconsin to Illinois via canoes

• Trapped furs along Illinois waterways

• Traded with Indians and learned about a waterway through Illinois

Marquette & Joliet discover a water route

through Illinois• Canoed & portaged upriver

from Arkansas back into Illinois

• Learned from Indians that Illinois River could be navigated upriver back to Chicago

• Returned to Green Bay with idea for a canal to create a corridor from east to west.

Illinois & Michigan Canal links Great Lakes

to Gulf of Mexico

• 96 mile canal from Lake Michigan to the Illinois River

• Construction began in 1836 and was completed in 1848. Much of canal was built by Irish immigrant workers.

• Canal opened commerce from the eastern United States to the Gulf of Mexico.

Importance of Locks along Canal

• 15 locks were built to allow canal boats to drop from the water level of Lake Michigan to that of the Illinois River.

• Boats carried grain, wood (pictured here), people and other cargo. A trip from Chicago to LaSalle took about 24 hours.

• Boats were pulled by donkeys which walked along a tow path next to the canal.

Importance of Lockport

• Headquarters of the I & M Canal

• Engineer William Gooding designed the canal from office in Lockport

• Canal Commissioners met here and tolls collected in LaSalle, Ottawa, Joliet and Bridgeport were accounted for.

Importance of Lockport

• Public Landing was location for much trade and dormitories for canal workers. This is now the site of the Lincoln Landing exhibit.

• Gaylord Building was a grain storage facility along the canal.

• Led to growth of Lockport and other towns along the canal

Importance of Abraham Lincoln to

I & M Canal & Illinois History

• Lincoln – Douglas Debate: one of most important debates in American history took place in Ottawa, Illinois.

• Lincoln made political deal that helped fund the completion of the I & M Canal.

• Part of the deal included moving the state capital from Vandalia to Springfield, Illinois.

• As President, he announced the opening of the canal in Congress.

Lincoln Landing Exhibit

• Field trip site to learn about I & M Canal, Lockport, Abraham Lincoln and important events in Illinois history.

• Located along the I & M Canal in Lockport

• Medallions throughout the park describe important people.

• Other plaques describe artifacts and important buildings

Lesson ReviewTrue or False

The I & M Canal connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

FALSE:

The I & M Canal connects the Great Lakes to the Illinois River, which then connects to the Mississippi River & the Gulf of Mexico.

Lesson ReviewTrue or False

Construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canal was completed by Irish immigrant workers.

TRUE:

Irish immigrants were instrumental in constructing the 96 mile canal.

Lesson ReviewWilliam Gooding was the engineer who designed the I & M Canal. His office was located in Lockport, Illinois.

Multiple Choice

Who was the engineer responsible for designing the I & M Canal?

• Abraham Lincoln• Father Jacque Marquette• William Gooding