Clinton Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District-Clinton Lock 2 and 3-Clinton Upper (Lock 2) and Clinton Lower (Lock 3)
Also known as: Ohio Historic Inventory #s SUM-3102-19, SUM-3103-19; Sum-3104-19
Why it's listed
Clinton's Ohio & Erie Canal district is a linear stretch of canal remains along the Tuscarawas River flood plain in Summit County, Ohio. It includes Locks 2 and 3, a guard lock, two concrete flood gates, sections of towpath and canal prism, and the foundations of lock tenders' houses and piles of original cut sandstone. The locks were rebuilt in poured concrete during state rehabilitation work in 1907 and 1908, and the towpath now serves as a paved recreation trail. The district was listed for its part in the canal's transportation history and for its engineering. Clinton had grain warehouses, a mill, and a busy coal industry that sent large shipments to Cleveland, and a canal slip connected the mines to the canal near Lock 2. The locks, flood gates and guard lock follow standard canal dimensions, with chambers 90 feet long, and they show how river water was fed into the canal and its levels controlled. The period of significance runs from 1828 to 1913.
Significance in brief: The district is significant under Criterion A for its role in transportation, as Clinton shipped grain, goods and coal to markets such as Cleveland by canal. It is significant under Criterion C for engineering, since the locks, flood gates and guard lock reflect standard Ohio & Erie Canal designs and the hydraulic technology that moved boats and managed water supply from the Tuscarawas River.
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 03000111, listed March 16, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Approx. along the Canal Channel parallel to Water St., Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | March 16, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000111 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1828-1913 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Towpath rehabilitated and paved as a trail by the park district; the district is used for outdoor recreation. Lock 2 and Lock 3 are concrete from 1907-08 rehabilitation, with some coping delaminating or cracked; the channel is partly watered. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 40.93317, -81.62805 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 03000111.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.