Since the creation of the Welland Canal in the 1800s, the Locks running along the Welland Canal have been recreated four different times. The number of locks for each iteration have always diminished with each new recreation of the Welland Canal.

The Welland Canal has been the focus of plots and sabotage on a number of occasions since the first iteration of the Welland Canal. From an objective standpoint, the Welland Canal acts as a way of passage for ships containing various materials and goods. The purpose of the attempts of sabotage can be pinpointed to political and economical factors since the first creation of the Welland Canal.

Administration of the system is shared by two entities, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. in the U.S., a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, and The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation in Canada, a not-for-profit corporation (ownership of the Canadian portion of the Seaway

A walking and biking path is available for those that wish to visit the Lock as well as a road for driving.