Canal Boats, Cook County, Illinois

When the I&M Canal was built in the 1840's, canal boats, pulled by mules or horses, offered a smooth and convenient alternative to riding by horseback or stage coach. The building of the railroads in the late 1850's quickly caused the decline of canal boat travel. By this time this picture was taken about 1906 on the Sanitary & Ship Canal which is adjacent to the original I&M Canal, canal boats were used only for freight.