Join local author Rebecca Royer for a fascinating look at the early years of George Washington's ambitious Potomac Canal project and the vanished town of Matildaville. Royer's historical novel Chasing Freedom brings to life the boatmen, laborers, immigrants, merchants, and families who lived and worked along the canal between 1801 and 1807. Drawing on extensive research in Great Falls, she explores the daily struggles, dangers, and hopes of the people who shaped this early American frontier. 

Rebecca Royer is a historical fiction author based in Leesburg, Virginia. Her work draws heavily on the history of the Potomac River, the C&O Canal, and the communities of the DC-Maryland-Virginia region. After a 30-year career with the Federal Reserve, she now writes full-time, blending archival research with storytelling that highlights the people often left out of traditional narratives. Learn more at DMVHistoricalFiction.com.

This program includes a talk, Q&A, and book sale and signing. Registration recommended. Adults. 

Co-hosted by Great Falls Senior Center and Great Falls Library.