Heaven's Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal

Heaven's Ditch examines a transformative period in American history centered on the Erie Canal. Built entirely by hand and largely through wilderness, this 360-mile waterway was a technological achievement of its era. The canal's construction and opening sparked widespread cultural and spiritual ferment, becoming a site of intense religious innovation and social experimentation. From 1825 through 1844, the canal facilitated dramatic changes in American life. It established New York as the nation's financial capital and brought modern development to frontier regions. Along its length, notable figures emerged: Sam Patch became America's first celebrity daredevil, William Miller predicted the apocalypse, and Joseph Smith founded Mormonism. The canal also witnessed America's first "crime of the century," acts of violence, treasure hunts, and the activities of various visionaries, mystics, and hoaxers. The book explores the spiritual and political upheavals that unfolded along this waterway during this pivotal era.