the whitewater river formed a natural trade route for native americans and for early settlers. in 1836 the new state of indiana approved funds to build the whitewater canal, following the river from lawrenceburg, indiana, all the way to hagerstown, indiana, . it was opened to connersville, indiana, in 1845. while improving trade for the area, it suffered from alternate droughts and floods, which carried away aqueducts and embankments. it was so damaged by floods in the later 1850s that residents petitioned the state to sell the right of way for a railroad.