John Ballendine and the James River Canal near Richmond, Virginia: An Updated History of the First Navigational Canal with Locks in the United States.

This essay provides a revised history of the James River Canal, the first navigational canal with locks in the United States. It corrects previous assumptions about the location of the canal and emphasizes the importance of preserving the canal-related archaeological sites and structures. The construction of the canal involved the work of John Ballendine and his son Thomas, as well as the James River Company. The canal played a significant role in transportation and trade in colonial America, particularly in the Richmond area. Although it was eventually overshadowed by railroads, the remains of the canal can still be seen today in the James River Park system. [Extracted from the article]