Begun in 1825, the Morris Canal was completed in 1836. The canal’s 109-mile length extended across New Jersey, beginning in Phillipsburg, Warren County and terminating in Jersey City, Hudson County. The Morris Canal was the highest climbing canal constructed with a total rise and fall of approximately 1,674 feet. The use of inclined planes enabled the canal to reach these unprecedented heights, a feat not possible using the standard lock system alone. The Morris Canal played a crucial role in the industrial development of New Jersey. By the 1880s, however, the state’s burgeoning railroad system made the canals largely obsolete. The Morris Canal was formally abandoned in 1924. Over the following decades, large sections of the canal were dismantled or otherwise destroyed; however, some features, including basins, locks and planes, have been preserved. In some areas, the tow path and prism remain and have been converted to walking paths as part of the Morris Canal Greenway, an envisioned 111-mile trail. Approximately 20 miles of path are planned for or already exist in Passaic County.  

The Trust grant will help fund the completion of a cultural resources survey of the Morris Canal in Passaic County.