Clinton-Kalamazoo Canal

This canal, conceived at the peak of the era of canal-building, was part of Michigan's internal improvements program which was announced in 1837. The Clinton-Kalamazoo Canal would make it possible to cross southern Michigan by boat from Lake St. Clair to Lake Michigan. On July 20, 1838 construction began at Mt. Clemens amid much fanfare. Hard times, however, soon made it difficult to sell bonds to finance the canal. When the excavation reached this point in 1843, the money ran out, and all work ceased. With the coming of railroads, support for the canal vanished. The completed part was little use.

After construction ended, the canal quickly fell into disrepair. Portions were used as a millrace to power watermills that operated well into the 1900s. Remnants of the canal are still visible in Rochester Hills in Oakland County and in Shelby Township and Clinton Township in Macomb County.