What was the significance of the Erie Canal, and when did it open?

The Erie Canal was first opened in 1825. It was
significant because it connected Lake Erie and the Great Lakes system to the Hudson
River, and thereby gave the western states direct access to the Atlantic Ocean without
shipping goods downstream on the Mississippi River to New Orleans. All of upstate New
York and the upper Ohio River valley were now connected to New York.  The time to ship
goods from Buffalo to New York was shortened from twenty days to six; and the cost per
ton reduced from $100.00 to five dollars. The economic boon was obviously tremendous. By
means of the canal, the importance of New Orleans as the economic capital of the nation
was largely supplanted. With the development of the steam boat, the canal became even
more important, as goods were then shipped upstream from the Midwest, then by the canal
to the port cities of the Northeast.