Formed on December 21, 1816, Pike County was the first county formed after Indiana became a state. It was named for Zebulon Pike, famous for his Pike Expedition of 1806 – 1807, exploring the southwest portion of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike commanded the 4th Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. He was killed as a brigadier general during the War of 1812 after his men had captured York (now Toronto), Canada
The Wabash & Erie Canal was completed on the abandoned “heavy” works of the Central Canal in Pike County. The Central Canal works were started in the early 1830s and abandoned in the late 1838/39 as the United States economy was in crisis.
In 1849, the Wabash & Erie Canal Company, decided to extend the Wabash & Erie Canal to Evansville from Terre Haute via the abandoned canal works of the Cross-Cut and Central Canals. Work of the Wabash & Erie was completed to Evansville in 1853.
Canal Path & Structures
Other Historical Maps
The following tabs correspond to articles written from past Canal Society of Indiana publications and the county you are viewing. Click on the link to read the associated article.
(2017 – Present)
The Tumble is the Canal Society of Indiana’s (CSI) current publication. The Tumble was the first publication of CSI to be completely internet based starting in 2017.
(2002-2016)
The Hoosier Packet was the official Canal Society of Indiana’s publication from 2002 through 2016.
(1986-2002)
The Newsletter began being published in 1986 and was a companion publication of the Canal Society of Indiana’s (CSI) that ran concurrent with Indiana Canals publication. The Newsletter was initially printed with information about CSI. In the mid 990s Newsletter took on a new format and absorbed Indiana Canals into this one publication which became the primary publication of the Canal Society of Indiana until 2002.
(1989 – 2002)
Indiana Canals began being published in 1986 and was a companion publication of the Canal Society of Indiana’s (CSI) that ran concurrent with Newsletter publication. Indiana Canals was initially printed with information about the how the canals function, mechanical features of old and what was still remaining. In the mid 990s Indiana Canals publication was absorbed into the Newsletter which became the prime publication of the Canal Society of Indiana.
Volume I (1989/90)
Volume II (1990)
Volume V (1993/94)
- The White River Aqueduct
- 1853 Chief Engineer’s Report: Waste Weir above Lock 61 to Culvert No. 182 (Lick Creek)
- 1853 Chief Engineer’s Report: Culvert No. 183 to Evansville Termius
Volume XI (2000)
(1981 – 1986)
Indiana Waterways was the first publication of the Canal Society of Indiana. The first edition was published in 1981 several months before the establishment of the Canal Society of Indiana and became the source of information about the development of CSI and information to the members until the creation of Indiana Canals and the Newsletter in 1986.