Canal Boat Rides - Take A Journey Back To The 1800s
Picture it: 1848 Illinois. Prairie covers the state. Overland transportation is slow and treacherous. And only a few small communities exist, including a small port town on Lake Michigan called Chicago. Then the I&M Canal opens, and everything changes…
Relive the fateful turning point in our history that led to a new era of transportation and the growth of our region by taking a trip on The Volunteer, our Canal Boat. This vessel is not only a replica of those from the 1840s. It also runs on the same energy source: mule power!
Catch the boat at I&M Canal State Trail – Lock 14 Access, LaSalle IL. It’s near our I&M Canal Visitor Center and Lock 16 Café and Gift Shop (754 First Street), so pop in if you have questions, want to buy tickets in person, need to use the restrooms before you embark or are looking for a tasty bite or beverage.
The boat runs from late May through October. Ticket purchases are available all year long–making this a lovely gift you can purchase or get-together you can plan any time of year.