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Jul 23
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Trust Celebrates the Completion of the Log Wall Stabilization Project

By Explore Your Park, History

July 2025 marked the official completion of the Log Wall, a historic drylaid stone wall, stabilization near the Carderock Recreation Area. The project began in 2023, following the formation of sinkholes in 2015 and 2016 above the Log Wall. These sinkholes led to the dewatering and sandbagging of the canal to preserve its structural integrity. The resulting damage left a vital section of the towpath at risk of failure, disrupting the park’s continuity and recreational opportunities. Additionally, the sinkholes increased the vulnerability of the Potomac Interceptor Combined Sewer to potential failures. Installed in the 1960s, this sewer system transports approximately 60 million gallons of combined sewage daily beneath the towpath to a treatment facility in Washington, D.C. A failure of the Log Wall could result in a leak or break in the sewer system, potentially releasing 60 million gallons of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River, causing widespread catastrophic damage to the ecosystem and human health.

Photo credit: NPS

To prevent these incidents, the C&O Canal National Historical Park initiated the Log Wall Stabilization project in 2023. The project aimed to maintain towpath continuity, restore water flow in the canal prism, mitigate risks to nearby structures, and reduce sediment emptying into the canal. To accomplish these goals, park staff and partners performed stone masonry repairs, removed sediment from the canal, fixed sinkholes, replaced the canal liner, and buttressed the stone wall. The completion of the Log Wall Stabilization has ensured towpath stability and marked a significant step towards rewatering the canal. It has also prevented damage to the Potomac Interceptor sewage system and surrounding communities.

If you visit today, Log Wall looks much like it did before the project began.

“There’s no way to see a lot of the things that we did because they’re under the surface. that’s really about part of our mission is maintaining the historic integrity of these landscapes and preserving these landscapes and those historic structures for current and future generations,” explained Joe Reed, Chief of Professional Services Division and the C&O Canal National Historical Park.  “It looks like it did, you know, like it was originally intended back in 1924.”

Photo credit: Francis Grant-Suttie

This project would not have been possible without funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund. INSERT INFO. Feel free to move around these quotes I pulled for the recording.

Photo credit: Tad Achey

Photo credit: NPS

Photo credit: NPS

Park staff, the National Park Foundation, project partners, and elected officials joined us to share their love for the park and celebrate the significance of stabilizing this critical section of towpath.

“We are obviously recognizing an important historical marker, but [Log Wall is] also essential for the future of the park to shore up the wall to make sure we have the stability we need to help protect the public and people will be using the canal and the towpath. And it is exactly what we envisioned as the kind of projects that would be funded by the Great American Outdoors Act, which is a historic piece of legislation,” said Chris Van Hollen, a U.S. Senator from Maryland.

April McClain Delaney, U.S. Representative for Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District, retold stories of her family park towpath and the importance of towpath continuity.

“This log wall perfectly symbolizes what the Great American Outdoor Act is about. It is really about a place and a space for community. It’s about preservation of our parklands and the beauty and splendor of America.”

Thank you to all of those who celebrated the Log Wall project with us and who recognize the importance of preserving this historic park. Together, we can ensure the C&O Canal remains a vibrant and sustainable source of inspiration and connection and help keep its resources protected today and preserved for the future.

Missed the livestream? View a recording of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgUvCMX7j4

May 21
Love0

How to Build a Canal: Engineering in the park

By Explore Your Park, Historic Figure, History, Stories

Photo provided by National Park Service

Building a 184.5 mile canal doesn’t just happen in a day; it requires meticulous planning. Engineers played an essential role in designing, planning, and building the park. With over 1,300 historic structures, a variety of engineers and experts were needed to turn George Washington’s dream into a reality. To unlock the transportation potential of the Potomac River, aqueducts, culverts, locks and lockhouses, a canal prism, the towpath, and more were built. Canal engineers were the masterminds behind the construction and maintenance of such structures.

The Vision of C&O Canal Engineers

United by the goal of connecting the Chesapeake Bay to the Ohio River, C&O Canal engineers brought their expertise and experience to complete the decades-long construction of the canal. Chief Engineer Benjamin Wright was recruited by the Chesapeake and Ohio Company after his success with the Erie Canal. Known as the Father of American Engineering, Wright learned much of his craft from his uncle who helped train him in surveying techniques. He designed plans for many of the historic structures we love today, including the Monocacy Aqueduct, before stepping down as Chief Engineer in 1831, paving the way for another C&O engineer.

Tower Lock at Great Falls. Photo provided by National Park Service

Charles Fisk rose to the title of Chief Engineer in 1837, after joining the project as an assistant engineer almost ten years prior. Fisk is the only C&O Canal engineer who served throughout the entire construction of the C&O Canal and was heavily involved with the construction, maintenance, and operations of dams. A Yale graduate, Fisk was dedicated to creating high-quality, durable structures and continued to reside in Washington, D.C., even after the canal’s completion.

Before the C&O Company began their work on the canal, the Patowmack Company focused on building navigable skirting canals on the Potomac River around some of its formidable rapids. However, this system incurred excessive costs that proved unsustainable, leading to its eventual abandonment. The skirt canals also required engineers, including supervisory engineer Captain George Pointer. Captain Pointer was a formerly enslaved person who worked for the Patowmack Company. He participated in the first project survey of the Potomac River and continued to work for the company even after he bought his freedom. After he retired, Captain Pointer spent the rest of his life living near Lock 6.

Georgetown Preservation Projects. Photo by Trust Staff

Continuing the Legacy

Today, many engineers honor the legacy of Captain George Pointer, Charles Fisk, and Benjamin Wright. As the C&O Canal approaches the 200th anniversary of its groundbreaking, it requires increased care to remain a safe and beautiful space to recreate and preserve the history of our region and our country. National Park Service staff are currently working on engineering projects throughout the park, including stabilizing Dam 5, rehabilitating the towpath, stabilizing Log Wall, and multiple Georgetown preservation projects. These projects help protect and preserve the structures that the canal’s first engineers worked so hard to build, engraving their stories in the continued history of the park.

To view current and recently completed projects, visit: https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/park-project.htm

Feb 04
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Trust Announces New Strategic Plan

By History, Nature, News

The C&O Canal Trust was founded in 2007 as the official nonprofit philanthropic partner of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, working in close partnership with the National Park Service (NPS). The Trust serves as a bridge between the NPS and a vibrant community of individuals and partners who raise funds to preserve the C&O Canal, supporting programs that highlight the park’s historical, natural, and cultural heritage and recreational opportunities. For nearly 20 years, through the generosity of individuals, foundations, corporations, and community partners, the Trust has been instrumental in supporting conservation projects, infrastructure improvements, education programs, and visitor resources throughout the park. We are thrilled to share our ambitious new Strategic Plan that will guide our work for the next four years, culminating with the 200th anniversary of the C&O Canal’s beginning. This plan is built on four pillars that will strengthen our programs and expand our impact.
Read More

Dec 30
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Trust Helps Protect and Preserve C&O Canal as Philanthropic Partner

By Explore Your Park, History, Nature, News
Philanthropic partnerships play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability and vitality of our national parks. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) National Historical Park is a nationally significant landmark that enriches the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the surrounding region. This continuous 184.5-mile park serves as a vital cultural, historical, and natural resource for millions of visitors and local residents each year. For all of us who love the C&O Canal, it is more than just a park – it is a living testament to our nation’s history and a sanctuary of natural beauty that deserves our collective stewardship.

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Apr 25
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Celebrating National Preservation Month

By Explore Your Park, History, News, Things to Do
May is National Preservation Month! This month-long celebration of unique and diverse histories and cultures began in 1973 as National Preservation Week. In 2005, National Preservation Week was extended to an entire month, and today, we celebrate the entire month of May. For the C&O Canal Trust, National Preservation Month gives us the opportunity to reflect on the importance of C&O Canal history and how we can continue to expand preservation efforts of historic structures and natural resources found in the Park.
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Feb 26
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The Trails Less Traveled

By Explore Your Park, Hike, History, Nature, Things to Do
The Billy Goat Trails in Potomac, MD, are some of the most popular trails within the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). Each year, millions of visitors come to the Park seeking recreational opportunities. Have you considered exploring some of the Park’s trails less traveled? This not only allows you to explore new areas in the Park but also allows a reprieve for the more heavily accessed trails. Much like the flow of a river carves its path, so do footsteps on trails. So, while exploring more of your local national park, you can also help protect the longevity of our favorite trails.
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Jun 15
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Trust Partners with Smithsonian Associates for C&O Canal Tour

By History, Landmarks, News, Program

Smithsonian Associates group visits Great Falls in the C&O Canal NHP. Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie

The C&O Canal Trust partnered with Smithsonian Associates to provide a day-long tour of the C&O Canal National Historical Park on June 2. Thirty-six participants braved the heat to explore several parts of the Park, including Great Falls and Rileys Lock. The tour included a guided tour of Lockhouse 22 at Pennyfield. Lockhouse 22 is one of seven rehabilitated lockhouses in the Canal Quarters program, which gives visitors the opportunity to book up to three consecutive nights in a historic lockhouse. Read More

Jan 25
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Seeking Freedom Beyond the C&O Canal

By 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

Apr 15
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Women on the C&O Canal

By Blog, Content, History, Stories

To celebrate Women’s History Month we are taking a look at the roles women played on the C&O Canal. Much of the canal’s history focuses on men, but thanks to the late Karen Gray, the C&O Canal National Historical Park’s former volunteer historian, we have this information on the canal’s women. Read More

Apr 02
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C&O Canal Aqueducts

By Blog, Content, Explore Your Park, History, Landmarks, Planning Your Visit

Eleven aqueducts stand along the C&O Canal – some of the most impressive of the canal structures that stand today. Aqueducts transported the canal over streams and tributaries. Several have been rebuilt, including the Conococheague Aqueduct in Williamsport, which is watered and is one of the only places in the country where you can ride a boat over an aqueduct. The eleven aqueducts are all different – the stone they were constructed with varies, including red sandstone, grey limestone, white granite, white and pink quartzite. Some have fallen apart and exist only as ruins, while others have been lovingly restored by the National Park Service to their former glory. All stand testament to the engineering ingenuity and devoted labor that went into their construction and the important role they played in the growth of our country. Read More

Mar 24
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Georgetown

Places for History Buffs Not to Miss

By Blog, Explore Your Park, History, Landmarks, Planning Your Visit, Things to Do, Towns and Communities
Georgetown from the Canal

Georgetown from the Canal by Tim Walters

Most people think of the C&O Canal as a place for outdoor recreation, but the park is designated as a national historical park because of its rich history. The canal’s history is multi-faceted—from its use as a transportation route with over 1,000 historic structures to its strategic location along the Potomac during the American Civil War and beyond. Today it’s not only a great place to enjoy the outdoors, but it’s a treasure trove for history enthusiasts. You can explore by region: East | Central | West

You can also copy this itinerary into our C&O Canal Itinerary Builder here.
Read More

Jan 27
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Celebrating Presidents’ Day on the C&O Canal

By Blog, History

Photo by David Everett Strickler on Unsplash

Many people are familiar with the C&O Canal’s connection to the Judicial Branch because of Justice Douglas, but what about the Executive Branch? In honor of Presidents’ Day, we ask how our Presidents have supported the C&O Canal and how they themselves have benefited from the canal.

With the White House only a 10-minute walk from the Park, various Presidents have enjoyed the Canal and the Potomac River over the years for both its recreational opportunities and its tranquility.

 

 

Read More

Jan 10
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Charles Fisk’s Impact on the Canal

By Blog, History

Written by Karen Gray- C&O Canal National Historical Park Historian

Charles Bezaleel Fisk (June 14, 1806–Jan. 11, 1866) is the only C&O Canal engineer who served throughout the construction period, being hired as a mere assistant engineer in 1828, rising to the position of chief engineer in April 1837, and leaving the canal in 1852. Fisk’s name is on the builders stone in the middle of the berm parapet of the Monocacy Aqueduct, the keystone of the upstream portal of the Paw Paw Tunnel, and the C&O completion obelisk beside the Wisconsin Avenue bridge over the canal in Georgetown on the NW side.

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Jul 30
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History of the Conocoheague Aqueduct

By History

C&O Canal aqueducts are essentially bridges of water, allowing boats to pass over creeks and rivers flowing into the Potomac River. The Conococheague Aqueduct is one of eleven that were built to allow boats to make it from DC to Cumberland.

Read More

Apr 26
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April is Archeology Month in Maryland

By History

April is Archeology Month in Maryland! To celebrate, we wanted to bring you a look at the archeological work that takes place along the canal. The C&O Canal National Historical Park is home to nearly 300 identified archeological sites that span back approximately 9,000 years. Many more exist that have not been documented.

Read More

Mar 27
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Presidents and the C&O Canal

By History, Stories

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 enjoyed the Canal and the Potomac River over the years for both its recreational opportunities and tranquility.

Without further ado, let’s take a stroll through history on the Canal with our former Presidents. Read More

Feb 13
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Recreation After Restoration: CCC Life Along the Canal

By History, Stories

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 camp. In June 1938, the camp welcomed a new batch of enrollees from Baltimore. Not long after that, Allen stopped dancing – those “Baltimore boys” were experienced visitors to jazz clubs, and Allen was essentially shamed into early dancing retirement by his friends. Read More

Feb 13
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The CCC and the C&O

By History, Stories

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 and 25 years old, lived and worked at two camps (Camp NP-1 and Camp NP-2) operated by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), located along the canal near present-day Carderock Recreation Area from 1938-1942. Read More

Jul 24
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Mercer Canal Boat at Great Falls

Experience History: Mule-Pulled Boat Rides on the Charles F. Mercer

By History, Things to Do
Charles F. Mercer Canal Boat by John Gensor

Charles F. Mercer Canal Boat by John Gensor

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 a trip on the Charles F. Mercer canal boat at the historic Great Falls Tavern.  It’s a great way to see how folks lived and worked along the canal during its heyday. 
Read More

May 12
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National Historic Preservation Month

By History

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 staff to preserve the historic structures in the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). This month we want to highlight the important work of saving our places and building our communities through preservation. Read More

Jan 27
Love4

10 Architectural Wonders of the C&O Canal

By History, Landmarks, Things to Do

The C&O Canal National Historical Park boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in the area. Not only is our Park magnificent to look at, but it is home to many natural and man-made wonders. The architects and builders who built the canal had to overcome rocky land, mountains, and changes in elevation, and through these difficulties, many architectural wonders were born.  Below, we take a closer look at 10 of them in honor of the C&O Canal Trust’s 10th anniversary. Read More

Jan 20
Love1

1850s shop ledger provides peek into C&O Canal history

By History, Stories

The archives of the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) hold a merchant’s ledger (1856-1858) from Williamsport, MD that provides details about everyday life along the canal and insights into park history. The ledger’s more than 260 lined pages provide insight into the foodways, economics, and material culture of people along the canal whose stories have often become invisible to the historical record.

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Mar 20
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Justice Douglas: One Man Can Make a Difference

By History, News

Imagine that a place you love, a place of refuge and retreat, is threatened with destruction in order to make way for a shopping center or an office building or a highway. What would you do?

That was exactly the situation Justice William O. Douglas faced early in 1954 when the neglected remnants of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal were threatened by the construction of a scenic highway. The proposed project would be much like Skyline Drive built right next to, if not on top of, the old canal.

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