The C&O Canal & America's Bicentennial

Currents of History: The C&O Canal & America’s Bicentennial celebrates America’s bicentennial through the story of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, where history, engineering, culture, and nature intersect. Curated by pastel artist Jean Hirons and research scholar Joel Cohen, the exhibition features artwork, historic photographs, maps, sculpture, and archival materials that reveal the canal’s enduring legacy. Highlighting its role as a 184-mile wilderness corridor and protected national park, the exhibit explores themes of conservation, innovation, stewardship, and the ongoing connection between people, place, and history.