The Wrecking of the Walk-in-the-Water off Buffalo Harbor- 1821 oil on canvas; 23 " x 30"

Named after a Wyndot Indian Chief, the Walk-in-the-Water's career lasted only from 1818 to 1821. In that short period she proved how valuable steamboats would become in opening up the West by carrying soldiers, pioneer immigrants, supplies and trade goods to destinations where no roads existed. Her home port was Black Rock on the Niagara River. Navigating the swift currents of the Niagara to reach the open water of Lake Erie was a great challenge to all ships. When a terrible storm drove the Walk-in-the-Water aground off the shores of Buffalo village, the Buffalo merchants seized the disaster as an opportunity to become the major port and future terminus of the Erie Canal. They offered to pay Noah Brown and the Lake Erie Steamboat Company $150 a day for every day that Buffalo's harbor was not open to steamboat trade if the Steamboat Company would salvage the engine of the Walk-in-the-Water and build a new steamboat in Buffalo. They agreed.and Buffalo dredged the sandbar blocking Buffalo River's mouth to create a new and safer port . This enterprise was a grand success, for Buffalo. The steamboat Superior, was built using the engine from the Walk-in-the-Water, the sandbar was cleared, and eventually even some of the Black Rock merchants relocated to Buffalo. Buffalo grew into a prosperous grain milling city in 30 years, growing so rapidly that it engulfed the village of Black Rock. Buffalo was born from the wrecking of and the resurrection of the Walk-in-the-Water.

Price on request.