Instructor: John Karas is a graduate of The University of Toledo and has taught at Harper College in Illinois. His lifelong interest in history led him to become a member of the 250 Committee preparing and educating about the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Description: Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the completion of The Erie Canal. At the time, it was one of the longest canals in the world. It was the Erie Canal that made New York State, the Empire State and New York City the biggest in the country. New York City is what it is today because of the canal. Getting the canal started, murder, and a group of interesting events took place during the building. THE WEDDING OF THE WATERS brought together Lake Erie and the Atlantic Ocean, Buffalo to New York City and the opening of the Midwest.