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Writer's pictureClassic City News
Aug 195 min read

Aqueduct built during Roman Empire still in use today

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a motto that works well for Rome. Because of the incredibly advanced craftsmanship of ancient Rome’s architects, as well as their remarkably long-lasting building materials (more on that below), many of the ancient empire’s most marvelous construction projects can still be seen by millions of tourists today — some 6 million people visit the Colosseum each year alone. However, the most amazing engineering achievement might be Rome’s eye-catching aqueducts, one of which still supplies Rome with watermillennia after it was built. 

While the Romans didn’t invent the aqueduct — primitive irrigation systems can be found in Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian history — Roman architects perfected the idea. In 312 BCE, the famed Roman leader Appius Claudius Caecuserected the first aqueduct, the Aqua Appia, which brought water to the growing population of the Roman Republic. Today, the Acqua Vergine — first built during the reign of Emperor Augustus in 19 BCE as the Aqua Virgo — still supplies Rome with water more than 2,000 years after its construction (though it’s been through several restorations). 

The main reason for the aqueduct’s longevity, along with that of many of Rome’s ancient buildings, is its near-miraculous recipe for concrete. An analysis by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discovered that Roman concrete could essentially self-heal due to its lime clasts (small mineral chunks) and a process known as “hot mixing” (mixing in the lime at extremely high temperatures). Today, researchers are studying how the material functioned in the hopes of applying secrets from the “Eternal City” to today’s building materials.

New York’s Croton Aqueduct built in 1842 was based on Roman engineering

The fall of Rome in the fifth century coincided with a decline in sanitary conditions in many of the world’s cities. By the 18th and 19th centuries, disease ran rampant due to poor sanitation and water management. One of the first aqueducts in the U.S.was the Croton Aqueduct, designed by engineer John B. Jervis, which provided fresh water for the growing metropolis of New York City. Although ancient Rome’s last aqueduct had been built some 1,600 years prior, Jervis based his design on these impressive examples of engineering, and the aqueduct similarly used simple gravity to carry water 41 miles from the Croton Riverto reservoirs in Manhattan. Upon its completion in 1842, the aqueduct drastically improved health and hygiene in New York City and continued providing the booming metropolis with fresh water until it was decommissioned in 1955.

Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park

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Watch Tom Tarnowsky's Presentation on the History of the Old Croton Aqueduct in Westchester County: https://aqueduct.org/news/watch-tom-tarnowsky-s-lecture

During the 1830s New York City was in dire need of a fresh water supply to combat the steady rise of disease and to fight numerous fires that often engulfed large tracts of businesses and homes. After numerous proposals and an abandoned plan two years into its production, construction of an unprecedented magnitude began in 1837 under the expertise of John Bloomfield Jervis. The proposed plan called for a 41-mile aqueduct and dam to be built in order to run water from the Croton River to New York City. Three to four thousand workers, mostly Irish immigrants earning up to $1.00 per day, completed the masonry marvel in just five years. In 1842 water flowed into above-ground reservoirs located at the present sites of the New York Public Library and the Great Lawn of Central Park. Throngs of people attended the formal celebration held on October 14th and celebrated with "Croton cocktails" - a mix of Croton water and lemonade.

Croton distributing reservoir at current site of NYC Public Library

This 19th-century architectural achievement cost New York City approximately 13 million dollars and was believed able to provide New Yorkers with fresh water for centuries to come. The population spiraled upward at a dizzying rate, however, and the Croton Aqueduct, which was capable of carrying 100 million gallons per day, could no longer meet New York City's needs by the early 1880s. Construction of the New Croton Aqueduct began in 1885 and water began to flow by 1890. Although no longer the sole supplier of fresh water, the Old Croton Aqueduct continued to provide water to New York City until 1965.

In 1968, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased 26.2 miles of the original 41-mile aqueduct from New York City. Presently, Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park is a linear park which runs from Van Cortlandt Park at the Bronx County/City of Yonkers border to the Croton Dam in Cortlandt. In 1987 a section was reopened to supply the Town of Ossining and in 1992 the Old Croton Aqueduct was awarded National Historic Landmark Status. The scenic path over the underground aqueduct winds through urban centers and small communities. It passes near numerous historic sites, preserves, a museum highlighting the construction of the Aqueduct, and many homes. The Aqueduct's grassy ceiling provides abundant recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. While primarily for walking and running, parts of the trail are suitable for horseback riding, biking (except during "mud season"), bird watching, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. 

Aqueduct Education Project

Did you know? The Aqueduct Education project offers hands-on student tours and programs at three different historic sites in the Old Croton Aqueduct Historic State Park. Learn more about the variety of programs we offer by contacting Laura Compagni: Laura.compani@parks.ny.gov. 

Don't miss these popular destinations and attractions within or near this historic park

  • Double Arch-a unique bridge-within-a-bridge, located in Ossining across from the Ossining Museum. (Library of Congress)

  • Kykuit-the Rockefeller's estate

  • New Croton Dam-an unusual spillway makes for a pretty waterfall visible from the County park and from the dam above. (Croton Gorge Park)

  • Keeper's House-located in Dobbs Ferry, it was once the residence for the caretaker of the Aqueduct and is currently the park's visitor center/museum. A link to the Friends group's site tells all about it: The Keeper's House/Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct. 

  • Weir Chambers-located along the trail at various locations, they were constructed to enable Overseers and Caretakers to control the flow of water through the Aqueduct for repairs, inspections or to completely drain the line.  Also look for the ventilators that are located along the trail, constructed to ventilate the aqueduct.


 


The Friends of Old Croton Aqueduct offer a detailed map and brochure to help visitors use the Aqueduct Trail to connect to numerous destinations in Westchester County. To purchase a brochure, please visit http://www.aqueduct.org/. Funds raised from the brochure help the Friends offer tours, programming, and improvements for the park.


Did You Know?OCA was listed as the 14th best trail in NY by trails.com- see link under resources tab.

Amenities Information

  • Amenities

  • Biking

  • Equestrian Trails

  • Hiking

  • Snowshoeing/X-Country Skiing

  • Tours

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