Wabash & Erie Canal Crossing of Wildcat Creek near Lafayette, IN

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Canal Societ of Indiana posted
In Tippecanoe Co. Indiana, the Wabash & Erie Canal crossed Wild Cat Creek via the slackwater created by damming the creek just beyond the bridge.  One of the abutments of that bridge is pictured [above].  As the bridge crossed the creek the mules walked along pulling the canal boats across the creek.  There were guard locks on either side to be negotiated by raising or lowering the boats.  These guard locks prevented flood waters from entering the canal.
Learn more ar the website- Indcanal.org      Selection box:   Maps & Information     Go to :  1876 Historical Map  / Google Map with locations and descriptions of the historic canal structures.  Get the canal history of this area with CSI Tour Guides - pages of information.

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[The "purple houses" are the guard locks and the pink diamond is the road bridge for the tow path.]

A topo map shows that the canal was built on top of an embankment west of Wildcat Creek.

1961 Lafayette East Quad @ 1:24,000

That embankment appears to still stand.

Satellite