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Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park |
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16500 Shepherdstown Pike, mailing address: PO Box 4, Sharpsburg, MD 21782
Phone: 301-739-4200
Fax: 301-739-5275
Open All Year
Overview. With the successful 1825 opening of the Erie Canal, the nation began looking seriously at water transportation as a way to move goods past the formidable Appalachian Mountains and establish quicker trade routes with the western frontier. On July 4, 1828, with much fanfare, President John Quincy Adams turned the first shovelful of earth to begin construction on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, slated to connect Washington, DC, with Pittsburgh, PA, and the navigable Ohio River. Ultimately, the skilled workers imported from western Europe proved unruly and, at times, riotous, and financial and legal problems slowed progress on the project. Construction on the canal, which runs parallel to the Potomac River, took 22 years to reach Cumberland, MD, a little more than half the proposed length. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, begun the same day as the canal and a constant rival for land rights and commerce, had reached Cumberland a full eight years before. The canal would end at Cumberland, obsolete on the day of its completion.
Despite the railroad, canal boats were kept busy hauling coal, grain, and lumber, in addition to being instrumental in the Union supply effort during the Civil War. Whole families made their living on the boats, which could travel through the canal's 74 locks and 184.5 miles in four or five days; these were 18-hour work days! In 1889, a devastating flood drove the company into receivership and it was acquired by its rival, the B & O Railroad. The canal was repaired and continued to operate until it was destroyed and permanently shut down by another flood in 1924.
Today, the National Park Service preserves the length of the canal as a historical park. The first 22 miles of the canal have been restored and rewatered, and the towpath is a popular hiking trail and bike path. On many of the dry upper stretches, sycamore have taken over the canal bed, providing habitat for cardinals and bluebirds; the entire route provides a tranquil retreat into the dreams of an earlier time.
What to see and do. Access to the canal is available at many points along its lengthy route. In the 22-mile stretch between its eastern terminus in Georgetown, Washington, DC, and Violettes Lock near Seneca, the canal has been restored and rewatered, and is a favorite spot for canoeing. Mule-drawn canalboat rides are available during the summer in Georgetown and at the dock near Great Falls Tavern. Call 301-767-3714 (Great Falls) or 202-653-5190 (Georgetown) for further information.
The towpath runs the length of the canal, providing almost 185 miles of continuous hiking and biking trail through the scenic Maryland countryside. Horseback riders may use portions of the towpath; contact the park for more information.
There are five drive-in campgrounds and a series of 31 hiker-biker campsites spaced evenly along the canal. The Marsden Tract campsite requires reservations. There are no hookups, but toilets and water are available at the drive-in campgrounds from spring to autumn. Drive-in campgrounds can accommodate trailers up to 20 feet in length; no dumping is allowed.
Park headquarters is in Sharpsburg, MD. Visitor centers are located along the canal route in Georgetown, Williamsport, Hancock, Brunswick, and Cumberland, MD. The Great Falls Tavern in Potomac, MD, serves as a museum as well. The visitor facilities feature exhibits on the human and natural history of the canal, and offer invaluable information on the ongoing repair work being done around the park. Park headquarters are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hours for the visitor centers change seasonally; please call for hours. You'll find lodging in nearby communities, and food service is available each summer at Great Falls, Swains Lock, and Fletchers Boat House.
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Bicycle Trails |
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Bird Watching |
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Boat Launching |
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Fishing |
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Food Service |
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Geological Sites |
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Gift Shop |
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Guided Tours |
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Hiking/Nature Trails |
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Historic Sites |
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Horse Trails |
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Motor Boating |
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Museum/Exhibits |
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Non-motor Boating |
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Picnic Sites |
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Programs/Talks |
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Self-guided Tours |
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Visitor Center |
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Wildflower Viewing |
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Wildlife Viewing |
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