Welcome to the C&O Canal Trust
The official nonprofit partner of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
Funding Priorities
Towpath Forever
Ensuring that the towpath and its resources are here forever.
Canal Classrooms
Exposing thousands of students to outdoor education programs along the Canal.
Canal Quarters
Step back in time as you spend the night in one of six historic lockhouses.
Canal Discoveries
Learn about the C&O Canal with these Virtual Ranger programs.
Canal Pride Days
Volunteer your time to help conserve the C&O Canal.
Canal Towns
Visit these nine unique destinations that border the Canal.
News
Poolesville Joins the Canal Towns Partnership
The Montgomery County town of Poolesville recently joined the Canal Towns Partnership, a community and economic development organization made up of 10 towns along the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). “We are excited to have our first new canal town come on board since the inception of the partnership in 2011,” said Abbie Ricketts, the chair of the Canal Towns Partnership.
Through tourism marketing and advocacy, the Canal Towns Partnership aims to amplify the voices of its small canal town members so they can fully reap the economic benefits of trail tourism. The C&O Canal NHP hosts over 5.1 million visitors a year, many of whom visit the Canal Towns in search of food, drink, shopping, and lodging.
Swains Lockhouse Project Wins Maryland Preservation Award
The C&O Canal Trust is honored to have been awarded the Maryland Historical Trust’s Award for Project Excellence in Preservation Partnerships at last week’s Maryland Preservation Awards for our rehabilitation of Swains Lockhouse! (more…)
Artwork Contest announced to celebrate Canal Pride program’s 13th anniversary
The C&O Canal Trust is conducting a t-shirt artwork contest to commemorate the 13th anniversary of our Canal Pride events. Amateur artists are invited to create and submit artwork that celebrates the 13th anniversary of this volunteer-driven event. The winning design will be printed on our Canal Pride t-shirts and worn by hundreds of volunteers as they work in the C&O Canal National Historical Park during the spring and summer months. (more…)
Support the Trust in 2020
Help the Trust get off to a great start in 2020!
As a small nonprofit that depends on charitable donations for 77 percent of its revenue, we need your help to continue working to preserve and enhance the C&O National Historical Park! (more…)
Fall Clean-ups on the Canal
This fall has been a busy time for clean-ups along the canal! The Trust has hosted several private events for corporate groups and other volunteers and each has made a big impact. (more…)
CFC# 98180.
EIN: 30-0401642.
C&O Canal Explorer
Mobile App
Download our new mobile app to your Android or Apple phone and explore the C&O Canal in a whole new way. Get the app!
Stay The Night at a Lockhouse
Canal Quarters lockhouses offer a historic, recreational, and educational experience like no other. Book your stay today!
Enter our Monthly Photo Contest
The C&O Canal Trust sponsors a monthly photo contest highlighting the best photos you have taken of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Find out how to enter here!
Park News
Click here for information on Park projects, closures, and alerts.
