Rustbelt Legacy: Port of Trade

After the Erie Canal was built to connect the eastern states to the Western Reserve and beyond, the small town of Cleveland finally thrived. The city became a center of trade and ship building as a small iron and steel manufacturing center also began to grow. During this period, the "a" was dropped from the name of the settlement, and the city of Cleveland expanded. One of the most fascinating aspects of this period is the fact that Cleveland became a key point on the Underground Railroad, as ex-slaves landed here to decide to brave the journey to Canada across Lake Erie or risk heading to Michigan to reach the crossing points west of the lake.