You can now create your own itineraries to guide your C&O Canal exploration, or you can copy one of ours! Learn more about Itineraries.
You might know that Clara Barton was a volunteer nurse and relief worker who founded the American chapter of the Red Cross. You might not know that her neighbors in Glen Echo tried to drive her from her home by building a roller coaster around it! Learn more.
You might know that Clara Barton was a volunteer nurse and relief worker who founded the American chapter of the Red Cross. You might not know that her neighbors in Glen Echo tried to drive her from her home by building a roller coaster around it!
Barton moved to Glen Echo when twin brothers Edwin and Edward Baltzley persuaded her to relocate to an idyllic woodland community they called Chautauqua. They even built her a beautiful home. After the community collapsed due to rumors of malaria in the area, the surrounding property was converted into an amusement park. One of the park’s managers, Alonzo Shaw, wanted to convert Barton’s home into a hotel, and tried to persuade Barton to leave. When she wouldn’t, he tried other ways to make her leave. That’s where the roller coaster came in—and a ferris wheel in the front yard!
Barton was not intimidated by the “Coney Island” atmosphere and she lived in the house until her death in 1912. She lived a simple, self-sufficient life tending to her fruit trees and mending her own clothes. At one time, the house even served as a working headquarters for her relief operations and an unofficial shelter for troubled souls, including alcoholics, “former prostitutes, chronic debtors, and other misfits.”
Located just upstream from Glen Echo, the Clara Barton House is managed by the National Park Service and is open to the public for tours.
We know that to preserve something, you need to experience it, so we are proud to provide support to the C&O National Historical Park as their official philanthropic partner.
Please visit the National Park Service website for the following information:
For more information and nearby places to stay or grab a bite to eat, please visit our local tourism partners:
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There has been a lapse in appropriations, and a shutdown of the federal government is currently in effect. Much of the C&O Canal National Historical Park remains open to the public, however, the National Park Service is not able to operate as normal. Visitor services, including park visitor centers and other NPS-staffed facilities, will not be available. Inquiries to the National Park Service will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends.
The C&O Canal Trust’s staff are currently working remotely. Scheduled Trust events and Canal Quarters reservations will continue as scheduled. While a federal government shutdown is in effect, visitors should not expect services typically provided by the National Park Service to be available. All visitors are urged to practice safety in the park and plan ahead. Be a good park steward by recreating responsibly and practicing Leave No Trace principles, respecting cultural and natural resources.
Information regarding the Department of Interior’s Operations in the Absence of Appropriations can be found here: https://www.doi.gov/shutdown.
When federal funding is restored, we look forward to continuing to work with our park partner to ensure the C&O Canal remains beautiful, safe, and welcoming for visitors today and for future generations. Love the Park? Help the Trust! Consider making a donation. Your support directly helps fund beautification, conservation, education, and preservation initiatives in the park.