| Canal Region Paved service roads edging both sides
of the canal create an easy-going bike route. On the Off-Cape side, pedal from
Buzzard's Bay to Scusset Beach, about 7 miles. Or, start at the Herring Run on Route
6, or at any parking lot near the Sagamore Rotary. On the Cape side, pedal from
Sandwich to Bourne, about 6.8 miles. Or, start at the U.S. Engineering Observation
Station, Sandwich or from Pleasant Street, Sagamore.
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The Cape Cod Canal is a National Historic Civil Engineering
Landmark. It was awarded this distinction in 1985. The two highway bridges
received the Class A "Award of Merit" in 1935. These awards
marked the end of a long struggle to achieve a dream that was first
conceived three hundred years earlier on a visit to the area by
Captain Myles Standish. He noticed a sea level valley that acted
as a watershed for the Manomet (Monument) and Scusset rivers. Standish
thought that a passage could be dug across this narrow neck of land, thus joining
the rivers that flowed out into the open ocean. Three hundred years
passed before this idea was finally executed.
In 1928 the United States Army Corps of Engineers became responsible for
operating and maintaining the Canal. A five-year project to straighten
and widen the canal was begun in 1935. This meant that the bridges had
to be replaced. Upon completion, the Cape Cod Canal became and remains
the widest sea level canal (without locks) in the world. By using the
canal, ships save 162 miles of travel around the tip of Cape
Cod. Vessels are also able to avoid the dangerous shoals and
unpredictable currents surrounding the Outer Cape.
In and around the Cape Cod Canal area:
Please click on Pairpoint Glass for
history and photos of this world-renown glass company.
September (its 34th year) the Bourne Scallop
Fest is held rain or shine under a big tent at Buzzards Bay Park.
Activities include live bands, games and rides and a large crafts
show.
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Breakwater area - popular fishing spot and nice beach. |
 Buzzards
Bay Railroad Bridge in the center of Bourne. |
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A 65 Year Old Marvel - The majestic vertical lift
railroad bridge has been a landmark of the Cape Cod Canal and the
village of Buzzards Bay for the past 65 years. Construction of the
bridge began in 1933 and was completed by the end of 1935. It was
part of the project by the Army Corp of Engineers to widen deepen, and
straighten the canal. The work was done by the Phoenix Bridge Company,
which had a crew of about 90 workers. This bridge was designed to
replace a smaller bascule type railroad bridge, which could not
accommodate the larger vessels that would be using the canal. The new
bridge was designed to have a lift span of 544 feet. For many years,
this bridge had the longest central span of its type. It is still
considered the most aesthetic single span vertical lift bridge. |
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| Bourne Chamber of Commerce in the
renovated train depot. This is a good parking area for cycling
the canal. |
Bourne has a large number of antique
shops, an Ocean State Job Lot, cycle shop, the above doggie bakery, gift
shops, discount mall shopping, etc. |
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Aptucxet Trading Post Museum is a
reconstruction of a trading post built by the Pilgrims from Plimoth Colony in 1627 for
trade with the Wampanoag and the Dutch from new Amsterdam. This is adjacent to the
Canal (on the Cape side) and has a nice area for picnicking. |
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Historical sites in the center of Sandwich,
a short bike ride from the Canal area - Dexter's Grist Mill and the
Sandwich Glass Museum.
Heritage Plantation, Grove Street,
Sandwich, features 76 acres of landscaped gardens, flower beds and
nature walks. Outdoor concerts take place throughout the
summer. (Gary Cooper's Dusenberg is on display here) |
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The National Marine Life Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 269
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-0269
www.nmlc.org
The NMLC is dedicated to rehabilitating and releasing stranded whales, dolphins, seals
and sea turtles, and to advancing scientific knowledge and education to marine wildlife
health and conservation. The Center includes exhibits on:
- the response to marine animal strandings - what decisions are made on the beach, how the
animals are moved, how they are cared for.
- marine mammals - their biology and adaptations to life in the ocean.
- sea turtles - how they differ from land turtles, why the various species are in danger
of extinction.
- the NMLC plans for renovating the building to create an animal hospital and nursery for
marine animals that come ashore alive and need care before returning to the ocean.
Please see further information on this facility on website:
http://www.simplyendangeredspecies.com
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Nesting pair of ospreys and their young. |
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