NPS / Arrye Rosser Come immerse yourself in the period between the country's Jubilee and Centennial years, 1825 - 1876. The Canal Era is a story of working people striving to realize the Founding Fathers' vision. Some prospered as businesses flourished along the watery interstate "highways" of the day. Immigrants and people of color struggled for work, greater freedom, and acceptance. Boats brought new consumer goods into the heartland and carried out raw materials. No longer reliant on homemade things, Americans became shoppers. During the Canal Era, the national identity and the national economy began to gel. |
Last updated: March 13, 2023