Last updated: June 18, 2026
Place
Lock 29
© JJ Prekop, Jr.
Quick Facts
Location:
Lock 29 Trailhead, 1648 Mill Street, Peninsula, Ohio 44264. Walk toward the Towpath Trail.
Significance:
Lock 29 and its aqueduct presented engineering and operational challenges to workers on the Ohio & Erie Canal. The lock required extra maintenance and was often a bottleneck for canal traffic.
Designation:
Peninsula Village Historic District; Ohio to Erie Trail; Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area; Ohio and Erie Canal District
Amenities
4 listed
Accessible Sites, Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Wheelchair Accessible
Lock 29 in Peninsula was an engineering and operational challenge for those working on the Ohio & Erie Canal. The curves at both ends and the adjacent aqueduct created a bottleneck for boat traffic. The aqueduct was originally built of wood and carried the canal over the Cuyahoga River. In winter, the material expanded when the canal water froze, causing leaks that produced a dramatic cascade of frozen icicles. In summer, the leaky aqueduct could make it difficult to maintain the proper water level in this section. To make matters worse, there was a risk of major flood damage with all this infrastructure so close to the river.
Because it had already been repaired, Lock 29 was one of the few not faced with concrete in the 1905 refurbishing of the canal. Step inside and look at its walls. The huge sandstone blocks were quarried nearby at Deep Lock. Additional exhibits explain how the lock was built and how it worked.
From here you can take the Towpath Trail in either direction. Head north to explore the narrowing of the Cuyahoga River canyon, Lock 30, and the Peninsula Feeder. The village of Boston is 2.4 miles away. Immediately across the river to the south is the Moody and Thomas Mill site. Beyond that is Lock 28 and a connector to Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park.
Because it had already been repaired, Lock 29 was one of the few not faced with concrete in the 1905 refurbishing of the canal. Step inside and look at its walls. The huge sandstone blocks were quarried nearby at Deep Lock. Additional exhibits explain how the lock was built and how it worked.
From here you can take the Towpath Trail in either direction. Head north to explore the narrowing of the Cuyahoga River canyon, Lock 30, and the Peninsula Feeder. The village of Boston is 2.4 miles away. Immediately across the river to the south is the Moody and Thomas Mill site. Beyond that is Lock 28 and a connector to Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park.