Blog Posts – Page 2 – C&O Canal Trust

Apr 29

Canal Community Story: Zack Ayisi

By Tymber Compher Canal Community Story

Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Zack Ayisi, TeenWorks Crew Leader and Canal Community Days Volunteer

C&O Canal Trust: What is TeenWorks?

Zack: TeenWorks is pretty much a way for teens to get involved with the community and give back and learn leadership skills while working. Now they have a volunteer process where you volunteer for 50 hours, and then you become a leader or ‘green shirt.’ This pretty much allows you to work at high schools or elementary schools, and you become a familiar face in the community.

Zack Ayisi at Great Falls by Francis Grant-Suttie

C&O Canal Trust: What exactly is your job?

Zack: So, I’m a red shirt, which is pretty much the same thing, in a way. The only difference, I guess, is honestly the pay, but I still go around and help different programs. I work at my old high school, as an outlet for kids to come relax, enjoy, and have fun with us. We are pretty much a safe space for them, and we have other red shirts at EBB (Excel Beyond the Bell), which is an enrichment program for younger kids. They have learning activities, and they have other contractors come and provide different activities such as a soccer game or fitness program.

C&O Canal Trust: How did you get involved with TeenWorks?

Zack: My senior year, I had attended a program as a culinary student. I used that to get my hours, and then after an interview, I got hired and worked for CJC. In the summer, I cleaned up the community, like weeding around libraries and other places in Montgomery County. I would really encourage other kids to get involved with TeenWorks, because it really creates different avenues for you growing up. I didn’t think when I was in high school, I would join CJC or help out in parades. I never thought I would go kayaking. It exposes you to so many different things.

C&O Canal Trust: How many times have you volunteered with the Park?

Zack: Last week, at Canal Community Days on April 23 at Great Falls was my second time at the C&O Canal.

C&O Canal Trust: What other event did you attend?

Zack: We seeded the grass around the bathrooms by Great Falls. After that, we went for a little walk, and cleaned up while we were walking.

C&O Canal Trust: What was it like volunteering this past weekend at Great Falls?

Zack: I enjoyed it. When you take care of something personally, you feel good about it because you want to see it being taken care of forever.

C&O Canal Trust: Do you visit the Park in your own time?

Zack: I would like to, but I haven’t visited on my own. I did, the first time I went, I enjoyed the view of the rapids at Great Falls near the Billy Goat Trail. I saw the falls, and I enjoyed it. I saw a couple guys kayaking! I think the Park is very beautiful, and I’ve been on hikes and stuff, but I just think that scenery was a bit different for me to see.

TeenWorks at Great Falls by Francis Grant-Suttie

Spring Blossoms on the C&O Canal

By Tymber Compher Blog, Nature

Bluebells along C&O Near Lock 51 by Cathy Hoyt

Spring is a beautiful time of year to explore the C&O Canal National Historical Park. As nature begins to awaken from its winter slumber, I find my eyes are no longer drawn upward to the tops of the majestic white sycamore trees along the river’s edge, but instead down to the wildflowers at the towpath’s edge. Wildflowers that appear early and have a short bloom time, often referred to as spring ephemerals, are like Mother Nature’s announcement that spring has arrived, and their cyclical appearance reminds me of the rhythms of the earth and the promise of warmer days ahead.

One of the first spring ephemerals I typically spot along the towpath is dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). The dainty white blossoms of these woodland perennials, which resemble a pair of pantaloons hanging upside down, are my signal to be on the lookout for other wildflowers. Squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis), in the same family, seems to follow and bloom soon after. It is very similar to dutchman’s breeches, but has heart-shaped blossoms with a pink and sometimes lavender tint to them. The name comes from the resemblance of the plant’s root tubers to corn kernels and the fact that squirrels and other small animals are often responsible for digging up and spreading the roots.

Bloodroot by Charissa Hipp

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) also appear in the early days of spring along the towpath. Bloodroot flowers only last for a few days; on cold days, the petals stay closed like at night. When the petals are fully open, bloodroot flowers are quite lovely with their solitary flower and the contrast of the golden-orange center against the white petals. The unique lobed leaves of the bloodroot plant often catch my attention long after the blooms have gone away. The name is derived from the red juice in the underground part of the plant’s stem that was used by Native Americans as a dye for baskets, clothing, war paint, and insect repellant.

Spring Beauty by Charissa Hipp

Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) is abundant in large patches along the towpath. The petals of this petite woodland perennial are white with very fine pink stripes that vary from light pink to bright pink. Sometimes they’re so faint that the flowers look almost entirely white; other times, the vibrant hot pink is impossible to miss. Spring beauty has blooms that last about a month.

It’s impossible to talk about spring ephemerals along the C&O Canal without mentioning bluebells (Mertensia virginica). Bluebell season is one of the most anticipated times of year in the Park, waiting for the beautiful blooms that range in color from white to pink to shades of periwinkle. I’m drawn to the bell-shaped, tubular flowers and love discovering bluebell alleys along the towpath when large swaths of them blossom on both sides of the towpath. Once I was standing in such a space, enjoying the beauty of the bluebells when a hummingbird made a brief appearance, attracted to the fragrance of the bluebells.

Trout Lily by Charissa Hipp

Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) reminds me of origami with its unusual and intricate-shaped, nodding blooms. I think the blooms are prettiest when they’re just starting to open and I’ve learned to notice the spotted leaves of the plant long before the blooms even appear. It grows in large patches along the towpath and sometimes I’ll spot a few white trout lilies among the yellow ones. Trout lily tends to bloom a little later in spring and can last well into May.

These are just a few of the most common spring ephemerals that bloom throughout the C&O Canal National Historical Park. There are many more. Do you have a favorite? Is there a particular one that signals the arrival of spring to you?

Written by Charissa Hipp

Apr 28

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Trust Hosts First Successful Canal Community Days Event of 2022 at Great Falls

By Tymber Compher News

Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie

The C&O Canal National Historical Park received a lot of love on Saturday, April 23, 2022, as the C&O Canal Trust welcomed volunteers, elected officials, Trust Board Members, and partnering organizations into the Park at Great Falls for our first Canal Community Days volunteer event of the season. Nearly 100 volunteers successfully removed over 1,000 pounds of trash and invasive plants, spread 15 yards of mulch in the picnic area, painted several park features, sanded the Mercer, and cleaned the Tavern’s first-floor windows.
Read More

Mar 30

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Canal Community Story: Steff Smith

By Tymber Compher Canal Community Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Steff Smith, Leader for Devils Backbone Brewing Company Volunteer Stewardship Program

Photo by Steff Smith

My name is Steff Smith and I am the Senior Sales Analyst for Devils Backbone Brewing Company. We are an alcoholic beverage company with a HUGE passion for the outdoors, people and leaving the world a better place than we found it. I don’t just live in the numbers, though. I am the stewardship coordinator and Women in Beer lead for the company as well. In so many words, I take the passion I have for volunteering with our parks, waterways and trails and use it to organize stewardship events for our whole company.

A little about the Devils Backbone’s Stewardship program for you. This is a core value of our mission and company values. We commit to a certain number of hours as a company each year and incentivize our employees to complete those hours by donating a dollar amount in their name to the nonprofit of their choice. When an employee completes 8 hours of volunteering in a year, we then donate $100 to their passion point nonprofit. This has been something we have been very proud of for years and are going to continue to push for years to come. Our goal for this year is 1,000 hours in 2022!!

When I joined Devils Backbone about 3 years ago, I saw this as an opportunity to get my family and friends involved as well. What could be better than getting my 11 year old daughter out in the wilderness to clean up our world?! (With some complaining, of course.) It has been a great bonding experience for us, and we enjoy working with the C&O Canal Trust at least once a month in the summer. These were not my first encounters with the Trust, however. I first volunteered with the Trust in my mid-20s at Weverton, Maryland, painting benches. My employer at the time had a relationship with the Trust, and every year at least once, we would make time to come help keep the parks looking beautiful.

Photo by Steff Smith

I can not compare the feeling after having helped to clean up our parks with anything else. Sure you get dirty, you get tired, you may or may not get some bumps and bruises – but seeing the amount of waste you can get out of natures habitat is truly rewarding. This year, a professional goal of mine is to get our Team at Devils Backbone to complete 1,000 hours of volunteer service. A personal goal of mine is to get my daughter and her friends involved at least once a month in the summer time – out of the phones and into the outdoors to help our world!!

Register for a Tour of Abner Cloud House

By Tymber Compher Things to Do

The Abner Cloud House is one of the oldest existing structures on the Canal. In 1801 Abner Cloud, Jr., built a random rubble stone house with the help of Italian stonemasons, probably using stone from local quarries.

The C&O Canal Trust is proud to partner with the Colonial Dames of America, Chapter III, who will be offering free 20-minute tours of the house as part of National Kids to Parks Day. Groups are limited to 5 people or one household per tour.

Some considerations:

Please be on time for your tour. If you are five minutes late, your spot may be given to someone else.
If you need to cancel, please call (240) 202-2625 x 191 or email [email protected].
Facemasks are not required, but masks and hand sanitizer will be available for those who need them.
This tour involves climbing two fairly tall flights of stairs.

Thank you!

First Name *

Last Name *

Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Phone *

Email *

Number of people in your group *

How many are ages 18+ ? *

How many are ages 13-17? *

How many are ages 5-12? *

How many are under age 5? *

Select your first choice tour time *

Select your second choice tour time *Note: if neither of your choices are available, we will contact you via email. *

How did you hear about this opportunity?

Comment or Message

Mar 14

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Join Us for National Kids to Parks Day

By Tymber Compher News

Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. The day connects kids and families with their local, state, and national parks and public lands through thousands of park events that promote discovery and exploration in the great outdoors. Read More

Feb 28

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An African American Engineer on the C&O Canal

By Tymber Compher Blog

On July 4th, 1828, the President of the United States inaugurated the C&O Canal with much fanfare. The new C&O Canal Company had assumed the property of the bankrupt Potomac Company with plans to build a canal to the western frontiers. In the morning Pres. John Quincy Adams boarded a boat in Georgetown along with local politicians and foreign dignitaries for the 5-mile trip to the mouth of the Potomac Canal at Little Falls. The captain of the boat was a former slave named Captain George Pointer who had become a supervisory engineer for the Potomac Company.

Diorama of George Washington Inspecting Construction of the Potomac River Canal (published circa 1958) From Hagley Museum and Library in Delaware

Pointer had been born a slave in 1773 and was “rented” by his owner to the Potomac Company when he was 13. The company was fulfilling a dream of George Washington to build canals around the falls in the Potomac to open up the American frontier to commerce. Pointer later described meeting the future president on Washington’s periodic inspections of the new canals.

Pointer participated in the first formal survey of the Potomac River in July 1789 and assumed increasing responsibilities for the supervision of work at Little Falls, Great Falls, and on the Shenandoah and Seneca Rivers. Eventually, he was able to buy his freedom and then worked the rest of his life for the Potomac Company.

In his company cottage near Lock Six of the C&O Canal, Pointer and his wife raised their three children and a granddaughter named Mary Ann. Mary Ann was ten years old when she accompanied her grandfather up the river with the American president in1828. She surely heard President Adams get a little carried away in his remarks about the future C&O Canal: “The project contemplates a conquest over physical nature such as has never been achieve by man. The wonders of the ancient world, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Temple of Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Artemisia, the Wall of China, sink into insignificance before it.”

One hundred years later Mary Ann’s own grandchildren told the Washington Post that she had not only met President John Quincy Adams that day but had danced with him to the music of the Marine Band. That night the President wrote in his diary that “I got through awkwardly, but without gross and palpable failure.”

George Pointer had been one of the first people hired by the Potomac Company and almost certainly the last one employed. In 1829 he wrote an 11-page letter asking the new C&O Company board members to avoid destroying his cottage where he had lived for over 40 years. In his letter he summarized his long and eventful career with the Potomac Company and although there is no record of the board’s response to his letter, the next year the Census recorded the Pointer family with the same Black and white neighbors as those he had had in 1820. George Pointer died sometime in the 1830s, perhaps during the 1832 cholera epidemic that took a large toll on the free Black population living on the banks of the Potomac.

George Pointer letter, Sept 5, 1829, Page 1, From National Archives

In the 1840s his granddaughter, Mary Ann, and her husband bought a two-acre farm in the most rural part of the District of Columbia, now called Chevy Chase, D.C. During the Civil War two of their sons joined the U.S. Colored Troops and while they were fighting in Virginia, their farm on Broad Branch Road was briefly invaded by Confederate troops before their retreat. Mary Ann and Thomas raised three generations of George Pointer’s descendants on that farm before they were forced to sell it in 1928 to make way for Lafayette Elementary School.

Today, the head of the Potomac Canal at Little Falls where Capt. George Pointer had taken President John Q. Adams is now used by world class kayakers training for competition. Eagles occasionally nest on the Virginia side of the river flying high overhead. The remnants of the Potomac Canal are still visible below them.

The information in this essay and much more can be found in the book entitled Between Freedom and Equality: The History of an African American Family in Washington, D.C. by Barbara Boyle Torrey and Clara Myrick Green. Georgetown University Press, 2021

Learn more about George Pointer on the Great Falls Park website.

Feb 24

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Canal Community Story: Steven Steinbach

By Tymber Compher Canal Community Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Steven Steinbach, Runner on the C&O Canal

Steven Steinbach in Cumberland

Running the Entire Towpath

Well, that’s a slightly misleading title. Yes, I ran the towpath’s 184.5-mile length, from Georgetown to Cumberland. But never more than eight miles at a time, and usually in chunks of five or six – and not exactly speedily, given my age, ability, and day job.

Steven’s Running Log

Starting in late winter with crusty ice on the trail and finishing in mid fall on a carpet of fallen leaves, I ran through dense fog, rain, pre-sunrise darkness, and sweltering heat and humidity, but, more often than not, sparkling weather – sometimes dodging caravans of bikers, but often going for an hour or two without meeting another soul. Amidst spectacular natural beauty, I encountered herons, ducks, turtles, frogs, a snake, scores of deer, turkey vultures, woodpeckers, hawks, and an eagle, along with horseflies, mosquitoes, and cicadas – and in the distant headlights on one pitch-black morning on the road to Little Orleans, if not a bobcat, then surely Maryland’s largest fox. Tracking, mile by mile, Mike High’s C&O Canal Companion, I immersed myself in the history of the canal and its environment, learning as much as I could about locks and lockkeepers, canal boats and traffic, tunnels and slackwater, Potomac floods and Civil War crossings.

All of us are indebted to Justice Douglas for creating this national treasure and to the C&O Canal Trust and the National Park Service for its preservation. On a personal level, I’m grateful for my supportive (yet slightly bemused) family, my trainer Maria Brown, who kept my body working, and my student Jack Leonard, whose research paper got me first interested in exploring the canal.

Steven Steinbach at Mile Marker 0

This project was not without two significant wrinkles. First, because I was alone, I’d run and then be forced to double back to where I had parked the car. The silver lining? This means I’ve walked, as well as run, the towpath’s length. Second, the farther I’d get from home along the towpath, the longer and longer the drives, first along River Road, then I-270, and then I-70. The silver lining? Listening to lots of audiobooks.

When I finally made it to Cumberland and saw the sign – only 149 miles along the Great Allegheny Passage to Pittsburgh! – I was sorely tempted. Too much driving, though. So, I thought, why not run the towpath again? And I’ve just reached mile marker 67.

Trust Supports Preservation of Rare Plants in the C&O Canal National Historical Park

By Tymber Compher News

A Biodiversity Treasure in Peril

The C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) is beloved for its natural beauty, rich recreational opportunities, and accessibility for over five million visitors. What is less well known is that it is one of the most biologically diverse national parks in the nation. Since its creation in 1971, nearly 200 rare, threatened, or endangered (RTE) plants, some of which are globally rare and unique. But that number appears to be dwindling. Between 2008 and 2020, just 106 previously identified RTE species were found along the C&O Canal. Invasive non native plants, regional urbanization, and surging visitation have all taken their toll on the fragile habitats that make such diversity possible. With the addition of unfolding climate change, the National Park Service (NPS) is facing complex challenges to conserve these resources. Read More

Feb 15

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School and Youth Organization Volunteer Opportunities Interest Form

By Tymber Compher Uncategorized

Thank you for your interest in partnering with the C&O Canal Trust. Our team will review your inquiry, and you can expect to hear from us within one week.

Full Name *

Phone *

Email *

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

What is the name of your group / organization? *

Group Type *

What is the estimated size of your group? *

What is your group's preferred date to have your volunteer event? *

Where in the Park would you like to have your volunteer event? *

What is the age range of your group? *

How did you hear about the C&O Canal Trust? *

Is there anything else that would be helpful for us to know?

Feb 09

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Corporate and Nonprofit Stewardship Interest Form

By Tymber Compher Volunteer

Corporate and Nonprofit Stewardship Interest Form

Thank you for your interest in partnering with the C&O Canal Trust. Our team will review your inquiry, and you can expect to hear from us within one week. Please be aware that we need at least one month lead time to coordinate a stewardship event.

Full Name *

Phone *

Email *

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Affiliated Company / Organization *

Group Type *

What is the estimated size of your group? *

What is your group's preferred date to have your volunteer event? *

Where in the Park would you like to have your volunteer event? *

What is the age range of your group? *

Is your group able to make a stewardship donation to support your volunteer event? If so, what is your group's anticipated donation? *

How did you hear about the C&O Canal Trust? *

Is there anything else that would be helpful for us to know?

Name

Jan 27

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Canal Community Days Event at Great Falls

By Tymber Compher Volunteer

Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie

Canal Community Days at Great Falls

April 22, 2023
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Thank you to all the volunteers who joined us. You helped Make This Park Shine!

Impact Report

108 Volunteers:

Removed 900 pounds of trash
Removed 900 pounds of invasive plants
Laid 50 yards of gravel footpath
Spread 15 cubic yards of mulch
Painted 3 park structures
Spread 65 yards of mulch and gravel

Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie

Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie

Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie

Jan 27

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Celebrate FeBREWary with the C&O Canal Libations Trail

By Tymber Compher Eat/Drink, News

We are excited to announce the widely popular C&O Canal Libations Trail will carry on in 2023! Featuring craft breweries located in or nearby the ten Canal Towns, the popular trail was developed in a joint effort involving Allegany, Montgomery, Frederick, and Washington county tourism bureaus, Visit Maryland, C&O Canal Trust, and the Canal Towns Partnership as part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s 50th anniversary year long celebration in 2021. Read More

Jan 25

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Winter Wonderland Along the C&O Canal

By Tymber Compher Blog, Photography

Step out onto the towpath this winter and experience the magic of the C&O Canal blanketed in snow. Be mindful of winter conditions when visiting the Park and always check the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s website and social media pages prior to your visit.

Enjoy these photos of our park from the comfort of your home!

Great Falls in Winter by Francis Grant-Suttie

Winter Wonderland Near Lock 8 by Eric London

Snowed Fletchers Boathouse by Patricia Sainz

Snowy Path to the Potomac by Kara McNulty

Heron Having a Think by Michelle Holshue

Snowy Towpath - Antietam Creek Campsite by Ellen Kinzer

The Conococheague Aqueduct- Cushwa Basin, Williamsport by Margaret J Clingan

Widewater by Anglers by Donald Sladkin

Wintry Path Near Lock 8 by Eric London

Lockhouse10 in winter - Mike Mitchell

Great Falls Tavern During Heavy Snowfall by Roy Sewall

Winter on the Potomac River by Francis Grant-Suttie

Jan 25

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Seeking Freedom Beyond the C&O Canal

By Tymber Compher Blog, History, News

The Potomac River and its companion C&O Canal were the northern boundary of the Confederate states. Many people fled to that boundary and the Union protection beyond it. A curious passage from Civil War Captain Michael Egan’s “The Flying, Gray-Haired Yank” reads “The post [Hancock] was also a transfer point on the “underground railway” between Maryland and Virginia, where, before my arrival, large amounts of goods contraband of war were permitted to pass with a superficial examination, or without any inspection.” Read More

Jan 24

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Carderock C&O Canal Wayside Wins National NAI Award

By Tymber Compher News

Two wayside exhibits, documenting life at Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps NP-1 and NP-2 on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal during the Great Depression were the recipient of a National Association for Interpretation (NAI) award in December 2021. The exhibit project, created by Iondesign, owned by Ruth Bielobocky of Frederick, MD, was one of three such awarded entries in the “outdoor media” category. Read More

Dec 30

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Canal Story #50: Robin Zanotti

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the C&O Canal becoming a National Historical Park, we are featuring 50 Canal Stories throughout 2021. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, submit it to us at the link here, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory.

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Robin Zanotti, President of the C&O Canal Trust

It’s my honor to provide a wrap-up of this year’s 50 Canal Stories. It has been a weekly series that invited you to honor the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s 50th Anniversary by sharing your unique relationship with the Park.

Before I get to the special aspect of wrapping up this series, I want to start and then end with my personal relationship with the park. A number of years before I began working at the Trust, my husband and I decided to adopt an old dog. Muni’s owner had died and she waited for her new family at the Berkeley County Humane Society. She was as sweet as pie, which I would tell anyone who asked. As it relates to this story though, she was my walking companion. Up until the week she died, we often walked 3-4 miles on the towpath. It was our special place and it has remained so for me, despite losing Muni.

In my official capacity, I’ve been awed by the unique and compelling stories at least 49 of you have taken the time to share with us. Friendship, family and romance; exercise and personal challenges; such interesting history; and the beauty – oh, the beauty! Truly remarkable themes.

Thank you for joining all of us at the C&O Canal Trust in marking these special 50 years, well celebrated. It’s a labor of love for us because to a person, each member of my staff has a unique story of their connection to the park.

Back to my relationship with the park. As the president, I often hear the stories of others, as they explain why they donate, volunteer, or serve on our board. We immediately have something in common. For me, that’s the real story that I can uniquely share. I have such a cool job! Thank you for entrusting your stories to me as we jointly work to preserve and protect the park so that more stories may be told by future generations.

Read more Canal Stories here.

Dec 27

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C&O Canal Trust Presents the C&O Canal National Historical Park With $200,000

By Tymber Compher News

On December 9, 2021 the C&O Canal Trust presented a gift of $200,000 to the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). “The C&O Canal Trust provides the ways and means for individuals to contribute directly – through philanthropy, volunteerism, and advocacy – to the Park we love today and to the one we will leave to the future. This gift represents a couple of years of this activity, from our community of donors who give in support of the Park’s Canal Classrooms education program and Towpath Resurfacing efforts,” said John Guttmann, Board Chair of the C&O Canal Trust. “The C&O Canal Trust provides critical support for our work. Funding these programs is especially important because they provide a legacy for future visitors to enjoy the Park for years to come,” said Tina Cappetta, Superintendent of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Read More

Dec 23

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Canal Story #49: Dane Francis Trembath

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Dane Francis Trembath, Herpetologist at the Australian Museum and Friend of the C&O Canal

Dane: In December of 1988 my family moved to Cabin John, Maryland and I was very lucky to live a short walk from Lock 8 on the C&O Canal. At that time, I was nine years old, and I used to accompany my mother on walks along the footpath in the afternoon after school. It was at this young age that I really started to appreciate the amount of nature that was essentially on my doorstop. Just before dusk we would always see the Beavers, which I really liked, and it was great to watch the canal change over the seasons.

As I got older, I was able to venture on my own adventures along the C&O Canal with a few trusty friends. Every day after school we would head down to Lock 8 and either go fishing along the Canal or the Potomac River, and would often return covered in mud, just before dark. As teenagers, this was a great escape from school life and due to the size of the area, you could really explore.

Apart from the fishing, the main thing that my friends and I enjoyed finding was reptiles and amphibians. During summer, you could walk along the footpath and easily spot Eastern Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) and Northern Red-bellied Turtles (Pseudemys rubriventris) basking on fallen logs in the sun. Along the edge of the Canal in the vegetation was Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) and Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis). Sometimes you would also see Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) and Eastern Rat Snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) crossing the footpath. On dusk you could also see gigantic Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) surface from their daytime retreats for a breath of air and then resubmerge.

By going regularly and observing these animals, we were able to learn a lot about them and the natural world. This led to us actually doing research in our school library on these animals and I remember that we would see pictures of things that could live there in books, and then spend weeks trying to actually find them in life. This was when I decided that I should become a Herpetologist, a scientist that studied reptiles and amphibians

Every couple of years, due to flood damage, the C&O Canal was drained, and all the fish, turtles, and lots of tadpoles were confined to large pools. As we absolutely adored these animals, my friends and I would enter the knee-high mud and with a bucket brigade, rescue these animals and move them to the Potomac River or an adjacent lock if it had sufficient water. During these forays we also go to see all the different kinds of fish that lived there also.

In those days, most of these animals were very common, but unfortunately some were already in decline. I remember vividly finding a very old Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) on an island in the Potomac River and wondering why I had never seen them before. This beautiful turtle species is now endangered throughout much of its former range, largely due to habitat destruction.

In 1997, I graduated from Walt Whitman High School and in 1998 I was enrolled in a Degree in Zoology at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Going from Maryland to Tropical Australia was an amazing experience, and I was able to learn about Australian reptiles and amphibians. I even did a Masters degree on Australian Freshwater Turtles.

I am now currently employed as the Herpetological Technician at the Australian Museum Herpetology Department in Sydney where I help manage the largest scientific reference collection of reptiles and amphibians in Australia. As we have extensive collections, including specimens from the United States, I still smile when I see turtle specimens of species that I would have observed along the C&O Canal.

https://australian.museum/learn/collections/natural-science/herpetology/dane-trembath/

In January of 2019, I was able to return for a walk along the C&O Canal. Despite the usual January conditions, it was a warmish day and I was very excited to see a turtle had actually come out of hibernation to bask on a log. As I sat there looking at it, I wondered that it could possibly be one of the ones I saw many years ago, as turtles are now easily known to live 20+ years in the wild.

Read more Canal Stories here.

Dec 21

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Photo Contest Winners of 2021

By Tymber Compher Blog, Photography

This past year, in 2021, we received so many great photo contest entries. From iconic nature pictures to mesmerizing sunsets to beautiful day-trips along the towpath, we have seen the best highlights of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

These are your favorite photos, the contest winners of our monthly photo contest! Check them out below and reminisce with us about 2021.

January Winner

Sunrise of the Route 11 bridge that crosses over the C&O Canal and the Potomac River in Williamsport, Maryland by Nicholas Clements

February Winner

Billy Goat Trail by Grace Harmon

March Winner

View from the foot bridge that takes you across to the C&O Canal from Harpers Ferry, WV by Nicholas Clements

April Winner

Swains Lock Campground - Site 1 by Dan Ebert

May Winner

Carolina Wren singing on his pedestal- Near Mile Marker 56 by Eric Stuyck

June Winner

Harpers Ferry at Dusk - Taken from ~MM61 & Maryland Heights Overlook by Jeffrey Blander

July Winner

View under Town Creek Aqueduct by Paul Graunke

August Winner

Purple morning. Bollman Bridge. Williamsport MD by Beverly Ponton

September Winner

Inside the Paw Paw Tunnel by Alissa Rosenstein

October Winner

Turtle Fun 9.12.21 (near Pennyfield Lock) by Sue Roosma

November Winner

Beautiful Elegance - Webber House Four Locks by Beverly Edwards

December Winner

Canal Gateway - at Lock 20, adjacent to Great Falls Tavern by Brian J Porter

Submit your photos of the Park to be considered for our monthly photo contest here.

Dec 16

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Canal Story #48: Kathy Wilt

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Kathy Wilt, Visitor to the C&O Canal and Mule Owner

C&O Canal Trust: What is your relationship / history with the C&O Canal?
Kathy: As a child I’d go bike riding and horseback riding along the canal. It’s a great trail for conditioning horses. I also enjoy kayaking, walking, and biking in the park.

C&O Canal Trust: When did you first learn of the C&O Canal?
Kathy: Having grown up near the C&O Canal, it’s easy to take it for granted. It’s so accessible, and I appreciate what’s been done to improve that. The new parking lot at Point of Rocks is amazing! I also appreciate the new boat ramps and the repair work that is done after flooding.

C&O Canal Trust: You recently purchased a mule! What is her name?
Kathy: I purchased MayBelle in March. She’s a Belgian Cross who worked as an Amish draft mule and is a little over 16 hands high. She loves snacking on apples.

C&O Canal Trust: Can you tell us about that experience and what prompted you to get one?
Kathy: Before MayBelle, I rode the towpath with my first mule, Sweet Thing, for 27 years. Having ridden both horses and mules, I find that mules make excellent riding companions. They’re intelligent, strong, cooperative, and sturdy. It’s easy to see why they were the favorite animal for pulling the barges. They also live longer than horses.

It’s not a competition, though. Horses and mules get along very well. On Sweet Things’s first night on my farm, she jumped her 4 foot high stable door just so she could meet my thoroughbred. Now, MayBelle is a beloved companion of my pony, Little Teddy.

Although passing trains don’t bother MayBelle, she gets nervous when cyclists move around her quickly. I always appreciate people who move gently and slowly around her. Slowing down and seeing a mule on the towpath, you get a chance to enjoy the towpath from a historical perspective as it was over 100 years ago.

C&O Canal Trust: What is it like riding mules on the towpath?
Kathy: Riding mules on the towpath allows me to see it like the people who worked here so long ago. I love to think of the days of barges being pulled by mules like mine.

C&O Canal Trust:How do you take care of MayBelle?
Kathy: MayBelle lives on my farm with the other animals. There’s shelter and plenty of grass for her. I also provide her with grain, hay, and treats. A farrier will care for her feet. Mule shoes are longer and narrower than horse shoes.

C&O Canal Trust: Do you have a favorite memory of the Park?
Kathy: All of my memories in the C&O Canal park are favorites. It’s wonderful seeing eagles nesting in sycamore branches. I love riding in the fall and enjoying the golden, yellow leaves. Winter is beautiful, especially when there is snow. Spring brings bluebells and wood ducks.

C&O Canal Trust: What is your favorite place or section of the C&O Canal?
Kathy: The section between Harpers Ferry and Dargans Bend has a beautiful view of the river and the land across it. I love being able to see down the Potomac for a distance. There’s also the train track on the other side of the canal. It helps tie you to the history of the place.

C&O Canal Trust: Finally, what does the canal mean to you?
Kathy: The C&O Canal National Historical Park is a natural place with great beauty. Its proximity means I can enjoy it often in many ways. It’s a good place for federal recreation money to go to, and it’s a good place for nature and history.

Read more Canal Stories here.

Dec 08

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Canal Story #47: Tammy Giberson

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Tammy Giberson, Hiker on the C&O Canal National Historical Park

Tammy Giberson: In February 2017 I had a slip and fall accident that lead to a brain injury. Every doctor who treated me said I should have died. Taking care of the repercussions of that moment led to severe depression and weight gain. I started walking on the Towpath to be somewhere serene and get my mental health back.

In September of 2018, I challenged myself to run a mile. It took until November to achieve that goal. I’m still running! I may be slow but I go! The goal now is to see every single mile marker on the C&O Canal and I’m over halfway to that goal.

What was once a place of serenity for me is now a place of excitement and thrill. The deer, geese, and squirrels never fail to entertain. The Potomac River always has a story to babble. With 2021 being a cicada year that added an element of focus; bike bells versus cicada screaming.

Hiking 28 miles in a day and a half and rough camping at a hiker-biker camp in May of this year was a vacation dream come true. Everyone I told about it thought I was crazy but I had to prove I could do it. Hearing the pileated woodpecker at 06:00 was a fantastic alarm clock.

I’m now a “regular” at Cushwa Basin and Lockhouse 44. I know the dog walkers, the runners, the storytellers by sight if not by name. I have an alter ego named Zee The Red Fox that I use on Facebook to educate about the importance of the resource that is the National Parks. I volunteer on clean-up days and clean up even on non-volunteer days.

I love this place. It doesn’t matter what mile I’m in. It’s all amazing. It never gets old. I never thought a walk one day would give me a reason to live, but Zero Mile Marker- I’m coming for you!

Read more Canal Stories here.

Dec 02

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Canal Story #46: Denise Greer

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Denise Greer, Bike Rider on the C&O Canal National Historical Park & the Great Allegheny Passage

Denise Greer: In September, a friend and I set out to complete the C&O Canal Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage from Washington DC to Pittsburgh. I had never bike packed this distance. But the way that the C&O and GAP are organized made the ride the best choice for my longest adventure yet.

We picked an eastern end Georgetown start because logistically it made more sense to drive from my Louisville home to Pittsburgh, hop on the Amtrak, and bike back to Pittsburgh. I had no idea that the decision would turn out to be the best way for us to have experienced the C&O.

Beginning east and heading west was like traveling through history. I had the opportunity to experience the trail from the oldest sections to newer ones.

Each pedal stroke took us forward through the history of the canal. It’s incredible that mules and horses would lead vessels up the canal. And every time we arrived at a lockhouse, I imagined the caretakers and families that lived there doing their part to keep the canal system flowing. The next time I visit the C&O, I will stay at one of the lockhouses.

I fell in love with the C&O. With loaded tour bikes we cycled the trail at a leisurely pace, stopping along the way frequently to take in our surroundings. The sights and landscapes around us changed from urban to rural to remote. We stopped in small towns to enjoy their offerings, delighted to go from immersed in nature to relaxing at a coffee shop in a relatively short amount of time. It’s that balance that makes the C&O such an incredible experience.

We mostly camped along the way. Still mornings were some of my favorite moments on the C&O — the misty postcard views and wildlife abound. The hiker/bike campsites are a true treasure that really enhanced our ride. We literally awoke on the trail.

There was such a sense of accomplishment when we arrived at the C&O terminus in Cumberland. While our journey wasn’t over, I felt a sense of loss leaving the unique canal trail. It hugs you between water and land. As I look back on the trip, my fondest memories happened on the C&O.

I often get asked what my favorite part of the trail was and it’s difficult to pinpoint one thing. The entire experience is magical.

You can follow my journey along the C&O at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr9T2iipxdvySoYrNtL267RF5apXE9je1

Read more Canal Stories here.

Nov 24

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C&O Canal Trust Reflects on Programs This Year

By Tymber Compher News

As the volunteer project season draws to a close, I am amazed at how quickly and eagerly people have stepped up to help take care of the park, especially when it was needed most: a time when the definition of “normal” has been upended, the park has been loved a little too hard, and when it could be unhealthy for some people to venture out into public spaces. Still, you came, and now we admire the results. Read More

Nov 18

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Canal Story #45: Patricia Mayernik

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Patricia Mayernik, Bike Rider on the C&O Canal National Historical Park

Patricia Mayernik: For many years we’ve enjoyed extended biking vacations. We’ve traveled in the US and Europe biking on backroads and exploring small towns. With those trips, frankly, we were spoiled. The companies arranged the hotels and meals. Refills for snacks and water were offered along the way. There was even a support van for issues from falls to flats. When the pandemic canceled our trip in 2019, we decided on an alternate activity. Let’s bike the entire 184.5 miles of the C&O Canal Trail. Being less outdoorsy than most people who take on that challenge, we chose to do it in segments. We did the sections we could reach within a day and usually biked around 20 miles round trip.

The first lesson was to plan each trip around the parking lots. Additionally, if you plan it right, occasionally there is a restaurant for lunch at the mid-point. Of course, PB&J makes a good alternative. Exploring sections of the trail beyond our usual Brunswick to Harpers Ferry was fascinating. We also enjoyed reading about the history with the book, “Secrets of the C&O Canal.” Eventually, we reached a point where the drives were long and we decided to celebrate our 44th anniversary by completing the northwest segments over a couple of days.

We based our overnight stays at a B&B in Berkley Springs, WVA as it is convenient to the trail. The drive to the trail parking was for our week was about an hour. As a bonus, Berkley Springs has natural hot springs for soaks and lots of options for a massage.

Day one found us on the Western Maryland Rail Trail for the “out” with plans to use the C&O for the “back.” The early arrival of a late afternoon thunderstorm altered our day and we decided to turn back short of our goal. We arrived drenched and muddy at our B&B. Parking our shoes on the porch, our next priority was to take a shower and to rinse our bike clothes in the sink.

On day two we had even more challenges. There were plenty of puddles to dodge. The storm had also downed a few trees across the path requiring us to lift our bikes over their trunks. We persevered until we reached the entrance to the Paw Paw Tunnel. The next important lesson was to check the trail website for issues. If I had I would have learned that the south-eastern approach to the tunnel was closed for repairs. As we were just a short distance from our lunch break, we decided to take the detour, not appreciating how steep or long it would be. Pushing our bikes over the small mountain was frustrating and fatiguing. The problems compounded when I fell and scraped up my knees and elbows. As we downed our much needed lunch in Paw Paw, we called a taxi for a lift back to our car. We were willing to lock the bikes and drive to pick them up, but miraculously the driver had a bike rack on his mini-van. Clearly we weren’t the first in the area to need a lift.

Day three was the final coup de grace for our goal of reaching Cumberland later in the week. We set out towards Old Town from the Paw Paw Tunnel trailhead on the still muddy trail. About halfway to our lunch break, Bob’s bike got a flat. Foolishly we had no repair kit, and that was another important lesson. He insisted he could walk it back to the car. Exhausted, we drove back to Berkley Springs and enjoyed a soak and massage. Over lunch, we agreed to postpone the last segments and headed home early.

Many lessons were learned in those three days. Subsequently, we returned for clear skies and a flawless two day ride with an overnight in Cumberland to complete our goal. Our ability to laugh at the hardships and persevere for three days made an otherwise challenging trip a fun memory. I think we’ll make it to our 45th Anniversary.

Read more Canal Stories here.

Nov 11

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Canal Story #44: Elaine Stonebraker

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Elaine Stonebraker, Overnight Guest at C&O Canal Trust Lockhouses

Elaine Stonebraker: As I prepare to meet with someone who is documenting the late singer, Eva Cassidy, this is the perfect time to hark back to what the Canal means to me. Eva and I met every October for a bike camping trip on the Canal. Naturally, we’ll be meeting at a spot that revives fond memories of Eva and my campfires, our feelings of accomplishment at the end of the day’s pedaling, and the unforgettable scenery.

When I was a child, a canal boat sitting in the basin at Hancock always intrigued me. Could it have been the one that my Great Granddad led the mules for, when he quit school at age ten?

Opportunities arose to bike and hike on the towpath, and even to paddle the Potomac. It became clear that the history and beauty of this incredible National Historical Park would be an unending source of happy exploration. We first noticed the Canal Quarters sign on one of our trips. A chance visit on an Open House day, astonished me – the period furniture in each one immerses the visitor in that particular era. Spending the night in a lockhouse allows you to wind down and soak it all in at your own pace. You are not on a tour. You are living simply, as did our ancestors, listening to the crickets and beetles lull you to sleep.

With the exception of the newest one, I have stayed in, and loved, every one of the available Lockouses. Lockhouse 49, known locally as the Taylor House, is my favorite and may well merit a fifth visit. Four Locks was once a thriving community. When Eva and I were caught in a rainstorm there, we’d have given anything to be able to sit on that porch in those big rockers!

Read more Canal Stories here.

Nov 04

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Canal Story #43: Craig Griffin

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Craig Griffin, Volunteer Canal Steward

Craig Griffin: Trash-er-Cise! That is my hobby, picking up trash while getting exercise at the same time. I do this many places but Point of Rocks Boat Ramp in Maryland is my favorite place to trashercise on the C&O canal. Hello, I’m Craig Griffin, a 61 year old retired guy who lives in Herndon, Virginia. I adopted the area about 10 years ago. I like to train watch, fish, and kayak so this is an ideal area for me to volunteer. While my daughter and wife help only on occasion, I try to visit the park at least once a month to remove litter, cut back branches, and move fallen tree limbs.

When my daughter was in middle school, she needed volunteer hours so I put her to work cleaning the signs at Point of Rocks. My favorite sign was the primary entrance sign that had white engraved lettering. She cleaned each letter in the sign with a toothbrush, water, and mild soap. It is a tough sign to clean!

I retired in 2013, so I have more time to volunteer cleaning at the boat ramp. I have found many interesting items over the years. Most items go in the trash and recycling bin, but some I keep to donate to charity. This includes many clothing items, fishing gear, toys, and bicycling gear. Recently, I found a Unicorn! Well, not a real unicorn, but a stuffed animal toy unicorn. (See picture).

Lastly, thank you to all the volunteers and staff, many of whom I have met over the years. Together we make the park a better place for plants, animals and humans.

Read more Canal Stories here.

Oct 29

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Canal Story #42: Anthony Bates

By Tymber Compher Canal Story

Tell Us Your Canal Story

Anthony Bates, Partnerships Coordinator at the C&O Canal

C&O Canal Trust: What is your relationship with the C&O Canal?
Anthony Bates: I began working as the parks’ Partnerships Coordinator in Williamsport, MD, Summer 2020. During my time here at the park, I have really enjoyed the virtual meetings. The meetings have offered opportunities to establish working relationships with my co-workers and park partner organizations, that potentially would have taken longer to establish due to time traveling from one resource to the next, and difference of workstations and schedules.

C&O Canal Trust: What is it like working with the Trust and the Park?
Anthony Bates: Working at the C&O Canal National Historical Park has been a joy and I have enjoyed working with the staff and partners since my arrival. In my role as Partnerships Coordinator, I work closely with the C&O Canal Trust, and they have helped with my transition to the area by making me feel welcomed to the park and their team.

C&O Canal Trust: What is your role on a day-to-day basis?
Anthony Bates: In my role as Partnerships Coordinator, I work as a liaison between the park and park partners via developed formal and informal partnerships to help preserve C&O Canal National Historical park resources for current and future generations of park visitors.

C&O Canal Trust: What is your favorite part of working for the Park?
Anthony Bates: Working at the park has allowed for me to work with individuals/organizations to complete a common goal of creating a rememberable first impression for those who have never experienced visiting a National Park. Creating opportunities to welcome new visitors, reminds me of my first experience and how it led me to a career working for the National Park Service. Whether you’re a fan of rural settings and appreciate exotic plants/wildlife that can be viewed from the towpath and nearby trails in Western Maryland and the Eastern Panhandle of WV, or if you’re looking for an urban environment and like the amenities that Washington DC and Montgomery County, MD have to offer, the park allows for a memorable experience.

C&O Canal Trust: What is your favorite thing to do on the canal?
Anthony Bates: Due to COVID-19 I have not had an opportunity to spend a lot of time visiting all the park resources, but I really enjoy being able to see the mountainous landscape when visiting the towpath in Williamsport and surrounding areas in Washington County, MD.

C&O Canal Trust: Do you have a favorite spot?
Anthony Bates: No, not yet.

C&O Canal Trust: What does the canal mean to you?
Anthony Bates: The C&O Canal National Historical Park is a special place that offers different backgrounds an opportunity to come together and experience nature and its surroundings.

Read more Canal Stories here.

Oct 29

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C&O Canal Trust Celebrates a Successful Year for Canal Community Days

By Tymber Compher Canal Pride, News

Great Falls Canal Community Days by Francis Grant-Suttie

Canal Community Days is the C&O Canal Trust’s annual volunteer program. Each year, we recruit and manage hundreds of volunteers to undertake a range of preservation, beautification, maintenance, and conservation projects along the 184.5 mile length of the C&O Canal National Park, working closely with the National Park Service to identify priorities that can be completed by volunteers of all ages. Read More

Oct 28

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What Are You Thankful For?

By Tymber Compher Blog

The C&O Canal is a very special place, and we are so grateful to have all 184.5 miles right in our backyard to explore, recreate, and enjoy. This season, we want to express our thanks for this beautiful Park by talking about what we are most thankful for! Read more to see what some of the visitors to the Park have to say about the C&O Canal. Read More

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Zack Ayisi, TeenWorks Crew Leader and Canal Community Days Volunteer

Steff Smith, Leader for Devils Backbone Brewing Company Volunteer Stewardship Program

Steven Steinbach, Runner on the C&O Canal

Running the Entire Towpath

A Biodiversity Treasure in Peril

Corporate and Nonprofit Stewardship Interest Form

Canal Community Days at Great Falls

Great Falls in Winter by Francis Grant-Suttie

Winter Wonderland Near Lock 8 by Eric London

Snowed Fletchers Boathouse by Patricia Sainz

Snowy Path to the Potomac by Kara McNulty

Heron Having a Think by Michelle Holshue

Snowy Towpath - Antietam Creek Campsite by Ellen Kinzer

The Conococheague Aqueduct- Cushwa Basin, Williamsport by Margaret J Clingan

Widewater by Anglers by Donald Sladkin

Wintry Path Near Lock 8 by Eric London

Lockhouse10 in winter - Mike Mitchell

Great Falls Tavern During Heavy Snowfall by Roy Sewall

Winter on the Potomac River by Francis Grant-Suttie

Robin Zanotti, President of the C&O Canal Trust

Dane Francis Trembath, Herpetologist at the Australian Museum and Friend of the C&O Canal

January Winner

February Winner

March Winner

April Winner

May Winner

June Winner

July Winner

August Winner

September Winner

October Winner

November Winner

December Winner

Kathy Wilt, Visitor to the C&O Canal and Mule Owner

Tammy Giberson, Hiker on the C&O Canal National Historical Park

Denise Greer, Bike Rider on the C&O Canal National Historical Park & the Great Allegheny Passage

Patricia Mayernik, Bike Rider on the C&O Canal National Historical Park

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