Watervliet Side Cut Locks
Also known as: West Troy Side Cut Locks
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Double canal locks of cut limestone and a curved stone sea wall survive at Twenty-third Street, where the Hudson River meets the old West Troy 'side cut' of the Erie Canal. The side cut was built because Troy businesses objected to a plan that ended the canal's eastern stretch in Albany. It gave Troy commerce and west-bound freight a second entrance to the canal from the Hudson. A weigh lock stood at the canal end, and a lock at the river end served as the Hudson entrance. Appropriations in 1835 widened the side cut and doubled the locks at its western end, completed by 1850. In 1864 $75,000 was appropriated for a double lock at the eastern end, and a new lock was placed beside the original by the early 1870s. The wooden gates are gone, but recesses in the walls show where they stood. The State Basin has been filled in and the side cut has nearly vanished, leaving these locks as evidence of 19th-century canal engineering.
Significance in brief: The locks were the Hudson River entrance to the Erie Canal's lateral 'side cut', built so Troy commerce and west-bound freight could reach the canal without going through Albany. The double locks and sea wall are what remain of the side cut, and the nomination presents them as a monument to 19th-century engineering and transportation advances.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000529, listed August 12, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 23rd St. at the Hudson River, Watervliet |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | August 12, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000529 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked as ruins; the wooden gates are gone. The locks and sea wall were recently spared from demolition and were to be covered with clean fill to protect them for possible future development. |
| Coordinates | 42.73189, -73.69815 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000529.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707724
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.