| Sumario: | The completion of the Erie Canal had significant impacts on the nation, including westward expansion, industrialization, and the spread of new religious ideas. The opening of the canal was celebrated with a month-long aquatic celebration, known as the "Wedding of the Waters," which symbolized the hopes and ambitions of the community and projected a vision of a prosperous American future. The text discusses the Wedding of the Waters ceremony, which took place in 1825 and was reenacted in 1926. The 1825 ceremony excluded marginalized groups, while the 1926 ceremony aimed to be more inclusive and representative. The use of technology in the 1926 ceremony highlighted the progress and cosmopolitan nature of the nation. The text emphasizes the transformative power of ritual and encourages readers to consider what they want to see and change when it's their turn to look.
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