By Ranger Curt
In October 1790, President George Washington visited Williamsport as he considered this town as the site for the new federal capital. During his trip he stayed at Springfield Farm, and corresponded with Revolutionary War hero and town founder General Otho Holland Williams while making his decision. Finally, Washington selected the current location for Washington, D.C., 100 miles down the Potomac River.
During the Civil War in 1861, the C&O Canal at Williamsport was threatened by Confederate bombardment from across the Potomac River. Union Captain Abner Doubleday and his unit placed their artillery on the edge of Riverview Cemetery, just above the canal. This earned the location the name Doubleday Hill. In July 1863, Williamsport suffered as the Confederate Army under General Robert E. Lee was cornered here for 10 days as the flooded Potomac River prevented their retreat after the battle of Gettysburg. The town was turned into a huge hospital; almost every building was used as a ward. Some town residents argue that if the Union Army, under General Meade, had attacked the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, Lee and his army would have been defeated and the war ended right here at Williamsport.
Today, Williamsport is on the verge of regaining its past character as a canal town. Williamsport has more canal features within the half mile that the canal passes through the town than on any other stretch of the 184.5-mile canal. Plans call for work on the canal features to provide visitors a better glimpse into the town's past. So come to Williamsport and learn from the residents and park rangers about both the town and canal history!
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Plan Your Trip to Williamsport
Itinerary 1 | Itinerary 2 | Itinerary 3 | Itinerary 4 -
The C&O Canal's Williamsport Visitor Center is currently located in the historic C&O Canal Cushwa Warehouse. Appreciate the construction and history of this 200 year old building, learn the canal's ... Read More
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Between towpath Mileposts 99.1 and 99.6 are located Lock and Lockhouse 44, the Rail Road Lift Bridge, Bollman Bridge, Cushwa Basin, Cushwa Warehouse, Trolley Barn, and the Conococheague Aqueduct. Str... Read More
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As the town of Williamsport was considered by President Washington to serve as the Federal Capital and the town was surveyed, four stones were placed to mark the proposed Federal Square. One stone i... Read More
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Doubleday Hill is located at the northwestern end of the Riverview Cemetery and directly above the C&O Canal at Milepost 99.5. From this location Captain Abner Doubleday mounted artillery in 1861 to... Read More
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Located on the hill above the C&O Canal between Mileposts 99.1 and 99.5. The cemetery includes the final resting place of Williamsport founder General Otho Holland Williams, and many canawlers, and ... Read More
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Byron Park is situated a half mile east of the C&O Canal Cushwa Basin on Potomac Street/Rt. 11. Byron Park and many of the park buildings were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
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The Springfield Barn sits above Byron Park on Springfield Lane. The barn dates to the mid-17th century and George Washington stayed at this farm on a handful of occasions. Today the barn houses the... Read More
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The shops and restaurants along Potomac Street and North Conococheague Street provide a flavor of this Western Maryland small town!
