The demand for a link between Buzzards Bay in the south and Cape Cod Bay in the north goes back to George Washington, whose Continental Army was trapped by a British blockade during the Revolutionary War and had no waterway to retreat to. Completed in 1914, the landmark Cape Cod Canal is the world's widest sea-level canal. Its seven miles of glistening waterway is lined with lush scenery and is occasionally used by whales and dolphins, including endangered North Atlantic right whales. Sailing the canal reveals points of interest including Bourne Bridge, the vertical-lift Railroad Bridge, Gray Gables, Herring Run and Aptucxet Trading Post, the first trading post established by the Plymouth colonists. Before the linking of the two bays, commercial ships had to navigate around the Outer Cape, often encountering treacherous waters, dangerous shoals and sudden storms. This vital link made shipping faster and safer.
