The Susquehanna River from Turkey Hill

Description

Watercolor on paper drawing of "The Susquehanna River from Turkey Hill", 1802, from the Latrobe Sketchbooks, by Benjamin Henry Latrobe. In 1801, Latrobe was appointed by the Pennsylvania governor to work with the Susquehanna Canal Company of Maryland to make improvements to the Lower Susquehanna River. He surveyed the river with a small crew from October-November of that year and presented his work to the governor in March 1802. At Turkey Hill, Latrobe was tasked with clearing a channel along the eastern bank of the river. He spent $10,000 on materials to blast rock away from that section. This scene, features an unfinished split rail fence in foreground, atop Turkey Hill, which today is part of Conestoga, Pennsylvania. Looking north up river, there are numerous land and rock obstacles impeding travel on the river.