Towpath Resurfacing Has Begun!
If you’re planning on heading out to hike or bike along the towpath in the next couple of weeks, you might want to try out the five-mile section between Edwards […]
“The Great Ride” Documentary to Air in March
A new documentary featuring the C&O Canal and the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP Trail) will air in March on WQED in Pittsburgh and in May on MPT in Maryland. One […]
African American Civilian Conservation Corps Project Wins Award
Last year, the C&O Canal Trust and the C&O Canal National Historical Park worked with Dr. Josh Howard of Passel Historical Consulting on a project that traced the history of […]
In Winter There is Beauty to Be Found Along the C&O Canal
The C&O Canal National Historical Park has much to offer during the winter months to park visitors who enjoy the colder temperatures. Snow on the ground provides the opportunity for […]
Sponsor Canal Pride and Help the Park Recover
2019 is going to be a very busy year for our Canal Pride program as the Trust works with volunteers from our canal communities to help the Park recover from […]
Canal For All Engages New Audiences
In 2016, the C&O Canal Trust embarked on a mission to ensure the C&O Canal National Historical Park would be relevant and cared for in future generations. Called the “Canal […]
Trust Welcomes Two Team Members
Rod Newton joined the Trust in January 2019 as our Volunteer and Programs Coordinator. He comes to us with 20 years of experience organizing volunteers, coordinating logistics, and managing risk […]
Shutdown Impacts the C&O Canal
As the government shutdown stretches into its second month, the C&O Canal Trust continues our work in support of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, but without our valued National […]
Winning Photos from Our 2018 Facebook Photo Contests
Each month the C&O Canal Trust holds a photo contest on our Facebook page of photographs taken in the C&O Canal National Historical Park and its surrounding Canal Towns. Votes […]
Artwork Contest announced to celebrate Canal Pride program’s 12th anniversary
Hagerstown, MD – The C&O Canal Trust today announced a t-shirt artwork contest to commemorate the 12th anniversary of their Canal Pride events. Amateur artists are invited to create and […]
Research Examines Volunteer Management of Invasive Plants
Cheyenne Sebold, the Trust’s Programs and Partnerships intern, recently presented a poster at the Chesapeake Conservation Corps’ annual Chesapeake Watershed Form focusing on volunteer based invasive plant programming to manage invasive […]
C&O Canal Trust Welcomes New Chairman and Members to Its Board of Directors
On Friday, October 19, 2018, Stephen Chaudet took the helm of the Trust’s Board of Directors as its new Chairman after having served four years as Vice Chairman of the […]
Eighteen New Benches Installed in the Park in 2018
2018 was a banner year for the Trust’s Bench Sponsorship Program, with 18 new benches installed in the Park from Marsden Bridge in Potomac to Lock 75 near Cumberland!
Surviving Hurricane Agnes at Lockhouse 6
The threat of Hurricane Florence this past September reminded people across the Mid-Atlantic about past hurricanes that have devastated the area. In June of 1972, Hurricane Agnes came roaring into […]
Protecting the Past
The C&O Canal Trust is rehabilitating Swains Lockhouse at Lock 21 to become the newest addition to the Canal Quarters program. Bert Swain, who lived at Lock 21 from 1957-1980, […]
#MyCanal – Riding the Towpath: A Natural vs. Man-Made Continuum by Joe Schlag
I embarked on my first towpath ride on Saturday, July 29, planning to ride from Georgetown to Cumberland over a week’s time. This was not my first time going long-distance […]
Progress Continues on the Swains Rehab
The rehab work continues on the inside and outside of Swains Lockhouse. Take a look at the latest photos.
The Bald Eagle Has Landed
The Bald Eagle, considered a sign of strength since the times of the ancient Romans, has been our national symbol since 1782. Fun fact: Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to […]
Canal Mules Molly and Lil are Retiring
Say it ain’t so! Molly and Lil, two of the Park’s stable of six mules, are retiring this year. One of the most popular parts of guests’ visits to Great […]
A Flavor of Life at Swains Lockhouse
By Christine Rai
Five Things You May Not Know About the Paw Paw Tunnel
The Paw Paw Tunnel near Oldtown, Maryland, is one of the most notable features of the C&O Canal. The Tunnel itself is an incredible feat of engineering, and its construction […]
5 Tips for Outdoorspeople That Have Seasonal Allergies
This time of year can be difficult for those of us with allergies to pollen and other grasses. Even though this can be frustrating at times, it’s important to get […]
Presidents and the C&O Canal
The C&O Canal is wonderful for many reasons, but one of them is its vast history. With the White House only a 10-minute walk from the Park, various Presidents have […]
Ground Broken on Swains Lockhouse Rehabilitation
The C&O Canal Trust and the C&O Canal National Historical Park broke ground on the Swains Lockhouse rehabilitation project on March 17, 2018.
Bluebells Ring in Spring!
March and April are the months to make a visit to the C&O Canal towpath to search for Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). These gorgeous blue flowers create wonderful patches of […]
C&O Canal Explorer Mobile App Wins Innovative Product Partnership Award from Public Lands Alliance
The C&O Canal Trust’s new mobile app, the C&O Canal Explorer, was awarded the Innovative Product Partnership Award from the Public Lands Alliance on February 28 during the Public Lands […]
Hiking Spotlight: Billy Goat Trail A
The Billy Goat Trail is one of the most popular hiking spots in the D.C.-Maryland area. It has three sub-sections, but this week’s entry is focused around the most difficult […]
Building a Future: CCC Education Along the Canal
In the previous blog post, brief mention was made of educational advisor C. Rushton Long, the lone African American administrator within the canal camps. This one man, more than any […]
Recreation After Restoration: CCC Life Along the Canal
William Allen lived and worked at Camp NP-2 in Cabin John, and was well known to his fellow enrollees as the “camp jitterbug No. 1” for his dancing all about […]
The CCC and the C&O
The C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) traces its existence as a recreational site to hundreds of young black men. These men, all of whom were out-of-work and between 18 […]
Canal Town Spotlight: Sharpsburg, MD
History Sharpsburg has arguably one of the most colorful histories of any of our Canal Towns. In 1763, a man named Joseph Chapline founded Sharpsburg (then called Sharps Burgh) in […]
Historian to present free lecture on the C&O Canal’s African American Civilian Conservation Corps
Please note: The 12 p.m. lecture has sold out. Please email [email protected] if you would like to be placed on a waiting list. We hope you will join us at […]
Snapshots of 2017 on the C&O Canal
January getting you down? Look back at 2017 in the C&O Canal National Historical Park with each month’s photo contest winner! These photos capture the beauty of the park, which […]
Canal Quarters – Making Magical Memories
Canal Quarters lockhouses are popular for their historic charm, proximity to the towpath, and unique overnight lodgings. Through the years, the lockhouses have also been the destination for marriage proposals. […]
Experience History: Mule-Pulled Boat Rides on the Charles F. Mercer
The 1870s are alive and well in the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Experience a history lesson, a unique boat ride, and the famous C&O Canal mules when you take […]
Canal Town Spotlight: Brunswick, MD
History Brunswick should really be called a “Railroad Town”, but we like them, so they are a Canal Town anyway! Unlike any of the other towns, the B&O Railroad built […]
National Historic Preservation Month
May is National Historic Preservation Month! Historic preservation is very important to us here at the C&O Canal Trust. Much of our work involves partnering with the National Park Service […]
An Outdoor Adventure Along the C&O Canal
There is nothing better than an adventure in the great outdoors, and the C&O Canal National Historical Park is host to some exceptional activities to enjoy!
Canal Towns Spotlight: Cumberland, MD
Cumberland The C&O Canal National Historical Park ends its 184.5 mile stretch along the Potomac River in the delightful Canal Town of Cumberland, Maryland. Though Cumberland is the end point […]
Picturesque Places on the C&O Canal
Though most places in the C&O Canal National Historical Park are worthy of a picture, here are a few places that we find to be exceptionally photogenic.