Preserving America’s colorful Canal era and transportation history, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park encompasses 184.5 miles of canals and towpaths from Georgetown, Washington DC to Cumberland, Maryland. “The C&O Canal” was a lifeline for communities and businesses along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, grain and other agricultural products floated down the canal to market. Today millions of visitors hike or bike the C&O Canal each year to enjoy the natural, cultural and recreational opportunities available.
The park was established in 1961 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower preserve the history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal along the Potomac River along with many of the original canal structures. The canal and towpath trail extends from Georgetown, Washington DC to Cumberland, Maryland, a distance of 184.5 miles (296.9 km).
The C&O Canal, started in 1828 and completed in 1850, and also known as the “Grand Old Ditch”, was already obsolete at completion due to the new railroad line to Cumberland, which was finished eight years before the canal itself. It then operated primarily to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains to DC. Several severe floods damaged it beyond repair, and it was finally closed in 1924.
The area surrounding the canal was made a national park in 1971, to preserve its many historic structures and areas, among them: Fletcher’s Boat House, a great location for biking or walking and a good location to catch the canal towpath or take the Capital Crescent Trail; Glen Echo Park with a 1921 carousel, a children’s museum, two children’s theatres, art galleries, demonstrations and workshops; and the Clara Barton National Historic Site, a memorial to the founder of the American Red Cross.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- The park is open during daylight hours. Some of the park’s six visitor centers operate on a seasonal schedule. Contact one of the visitor centers for current hours of operation.
- Admission:
- Free
- Contact:
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park Headquarters
- Location: 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD
- Phone: 301-739-4200
- Website: www.nps.gov
Six visitor Centers:
- 1. Georgetown:
- Location: 1057 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, Washington DC
- Phone: 202-653-5190
- 2. Great Falls Tavern:
- Location: 11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD
- Phone: 301-767-3714
- 3. Brunswick:
- Location: 40 West Potomac Street Brunswick, MD
- Phone: 301-834-7100
- 4. Williamsport:
- Location: 205 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD
- Phone: 301-582-0813
- 5. Hancock:
- Location: 326 E. Main St., Hancock, MD
- Phone: 301-678-5463
- 6. Cumberland:
- Location: Western Maryland Railway Station, Room 100, 13 Canal St., Cumberland, MD
- Phone: 301-722-8226
