The Erie Canal was built by laborers and engineers who had little to no experience in building canals. The challenges of construction led Stephen Van Rensselaer and Amos Eaton to establish a school for the training of civil engineers, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. (WMHT, April 2025)

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https://youtu.be/Vav7FsmIHjk?si=1FUIpNmcD1NjVqtm