Our name refers to the working name of the Erie Canal, the historic waterway that altered the trajectory of Buffalo and the Great Lakes region forever. The canal was a groundbreaking innovation that opened trade between the Great Lakes and the Eastern Seaboard at either end: downtown Buffalo, at the mouth of Lake Erie; and Albany, in the Hudson Valley. It changed regional commerce and distribution, giving faster access to bulk goods. With an innovative lock system, the Erie Canal allowed ships to carry cargo across various canal depths. The once small idea of a “big ditch” went on to change the way people bought, sold and shared goods, and ultimately put our great City of Buffalo on the map as one of the finest in the country.