Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. - 1894 dated Stock Certificate

Stock printed by American Bank Note Company , New York.

The Delaware and Hudson Canal, the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which later built the Delaware and Hudson Railway, played a significant role in transportation. Between 1828 and 1899, its barges transported anthracite coal from northeastern Pennsylvania’s mines to the Hudson River and eventually to New York City. The canal’s construction involved remarkable civil engineering feats and introduced new technologies, particularly in rail transport. Its operation stimulated the city’s growth and encouraged settlement in the sparsely populated region. Unlike many other canals of its time, the Delaware and Hudson Canal remained a profitable private enterprise for most of its existence. In 1968, it was declared a National Historic Landmark. However, during the early 20th century, the canal was abandoned, and much of it was subsequently drained and filled. Today, only fragments remain in New York and Pennsylvania.