Cape Cod Canal

Occasional trips to Cape Cod Massachusetts mean crossing over the Cape Cod Canal, a manmade marvel that changed commerce for and transportation through southeastern Massachusetts,



Cloudy Cape Cod Canal

Next year will mark the Cape Cod Canal Centenial as its grand opening was July 29, 1914.    Just three short years after the arrival of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower in 1620, Miles Standish of the Plymouth Colony proposed a man-made canal separating Cape Cod from Massachusetts’ mainland. At the time, a major factor in the decision to dig this canal was to create more efficient trade routes between the Plymouth settlers in the north and the Native Americans and Dutch in the south. Instead of braving the treacherous waters around the arm of Cape Cod, Pilgrims would be able to leave Cape Cod Bay and head directly south.   This would allow vessels to avert the treacherous waters and rocks along the outer shores of Cape Cod.  Unfortunately, the settlers were unable to take on such a task, as their labor force and technology could not bear the required work.

During the American Revolution, building a Cape Cod Canal was again of interested in order to circumvent British harbor blockades. Going into the nineteenth century, many plans were made, but none succeeded. Meanwhile, the toll of shipwrecks along the hazardous outer banks of Cape Cod continued to mount. During the late 1880′s, shipwrecks occurred at the rate of one every two weeks.

Eventually, by the 1900s, ideas and technology were both advanced enough to finally build the canal.

In 1927, US Corps of Engineers selected two land areas that were naturally elevated, and erected fixed high-level bridges designed to accommodate the superstructures of large ocean-going vessels. The Corps created a vertical clearance of 135 feet above water and a horizontal clearance of 480 feet.

So not only is the Canal an important and functional wonder, it is beautiful.  There are numerous scenic areas along the canal and finally today, we took a walk along the canal while deciding upon a spot to paint. Late winter gray clouds predominated and there were even flakes in the air. We found a great parking spot right next to the canal so we set up knowing we could quickly pack up if we had to. The weather actually improved as we painted and a bright sun peaked through the puffy clouds. This is the Sagamore Bridge over the canal.   What a treat to watch the swirling canal currents and large colorful fishing trawlers pass by. Oh - and we produced paintings too.