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.
Every day, 158 million gallons of the Potomac River detours into the Washington Aqueduct system and serves the many water needs of the nation’s capital. George Washington devised the plan in 1798 to help with the building of the young city, but no one really took the project seriously for another 50 years. Learn more.
Every day, 158 million gallons of the Potomac River detours into the Washington Aqueduct system and serves the many water needs of the nation’s capital. George Washington devised the plan in 1798 to help with the building of the young city, but no one really took the project seriously for another 50 years. Springs and streams closer to Washington better served the purpose.
In 1852, Congress commissioned a feasibility study and named Montgomery C. Meigs of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to head the project. After a grand groundbreaking ceremony attended by President Franklin Pierce and other dignitaries, the project dragged on for more than a decade. Finally, in 1864, Potomac River water began making its 12-mile, mostly underground trip to the Georgetown Reservoir.
You can find the gatehouse for the original intake system, built from the distinctive red Seneca sandstone, next to the Great Falls Tavern. The aqueduct has been updated and expanded over the years, and still carries water to Washington where it is filtered and treated for consumption.
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:
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.