Rideau River & Rideau Canal

The Rideau is one of Canada's most historical recreational waterways. The Rideau Canal is a National Historic Site of Canada and a Canadian Heritage River. Come learn about the Rideau Canal and its lockstations, the role of agriculture and grist mills, and the railway system that brought prosperity to the early settlers.

Engineering Triumph  - by J.M.S. Careless
Colonel John By built the Rideau Canal between 1826 and 1832 to link Ottawa to Kingston and offer safe passage to inland Upper Canada. It was well away from the dangerous rapids in the Upper St. Lawrence – and above all, from the exposed American border along that river that had easily been crossed by invading United States forces during the War of 1812. Essentially, By’s work was meant to serve the defence of Upper Canada.

By’s feat was one of the great engineering triumphs of nineteenth century North America. Not only did he construct, through limestone and swamp, a canal route over 120 miles long with some 50 dams and 47 cut stone locks, but, more remarkably, the task was completed by hand labour over six summer seasons. His waterway, moreover, opened up new wilderness areas of eastern Upper Canada to occupation and development, not only bringing in settlers and supplies, but also carrying out lumber and farm products.