Photo courtesy of Frederick Magazine
Welcome to the C & O Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal extends for 184.5 miles from Washington, DC to Cumberland, Maryland. For nearly a century, the canal served as a lifeline for settlements along the Potomac River, and today, it’s a place of immense beauty, rich history and abundant recreational opportunities. Come explore the canal through these photos.
Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Canal history
Construction started on the C&O Canal in July of 1828 and was completed in 1850. For nearly 100 years – 1831 to 1924 – the canal served as a critical transportation corridor used to ship goods from the Allegheny Mountains (like coal). In 1961, the canal became a designated National Historic Park.
Photo courtesy of Allegany County
Potomac River
The C&O Canal, nicknamed the Grand Old Ditch, follows the north bank of the Potomac River (pictured) and connects the river’s tidewater in DC with the headwaters of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Knight / Maryland Office of Tourism
Exploring the towpath
One of the most popular parts of the national park for recreation is the canal towpath. This dirt and stone path runs the entire length…
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