Indiana Central Canal

Indiana Central Canal
Indiana historical marker in downtown Indianapolis in 2008
Map showing the Central Canal and other projects of the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act
Location	Indiana
Country	US
Coordinates	39°46′15.3″N 86°09′54.75″W / 39.770917°N 86.1652083°W / 39.770917; -86.1652083
Specifications
Length	8 miles (13 km) (originally 296 mi or 476 km)
Status	Partially built
History
Construction began	1836
Date restored	1985–2001
Geography
Start point	White River at Broad Ripple (originally Wabash River at Peru, Indiana)
End point	White River at downtown Indianapolis (originally Ohio River at Evansville, Indiana)

The Indiana Central Canal was a canal intended to connect the Wabash and Erie Canal to the Ohio River. It was funded by the Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, Indiana's attempt to take part in the canal-building craze started by the Erie Canal. $3.5 million was allocated for the project, the largest piece of the entire $10 million Act. However, due to the Panic of 1837, Indiana suffered financial difficulties and had to turn the canal over to the state's creditors, and building of the canal was stopped in 1839.^[1] The canal was supposed to extend 296 miles (476 km), from Peru, Indiana, to Evansville, Indiana, where it would reach the Ohio River. It was originally divided into two sections, North and South. Later, a third section was designated, called the Indianapolis section. Only eight miles (13 km) were completed, with an additional 80 miles (130 km) between Anderson, Indiana, and Martinsville, Indiana, having been partially built.