About the Canal

Brunswick Georgia’s Altamaha Canal is a historical waterway landmark in coastal Georgia history. It was and is a 12-mile-long canal built to connect the Altamaha River to the city of Brunswick at the Turtle River. The purpose was to shorten the distance of goods transported from Brunswick’s port to areas farther north and inland, and conversely, reciprocate the transport of inland necessities and goods to the sea islands (few) wealthy plantation owners and the numerous other not so wealthy, that populated and were a part of the local and surrounding economy.

The canal was first proposed in 1798. After two failed charters in 1826 and 1830, construction finally began in 1836 under the guidance Thomas Butler King.

The canal was completed and opened in 1854, with an estimated cost of $450,000; Approximately $16,000,000.00 in today’s dollars (The “Today” estimate does not take into account the tens of millions of dollars of added regulatory burdens and expenses that such a project would meet with current regulatory and environmental roadblocks).

Regardless, by the time it was finished, the coinciding advances in rail transportation reduced the usefulness of the canal. In 1860, and just over half a decade in use, the canal was closed,

Today, the canal is in a less than desirable condition. Parts are filled in, silted, clogged by downed trees, debris, or overgrown with aquatic plants. All of which leads to stagnant water due to the lack of drainage and tidal flow. In addition, the canals silting and stagnant water problems are compounded by its use as a drainage ditch for runoff from local roads and bridges that cross the canal.

Despite its current condition, large segments of the plantation era Brunswick–Altamaha Canal remain, and are still visible today.