Shrivers Basin and Main Basin
Near downtown Cumberland, the Canal divided into two elongated turning basins for boats: Main Basin and the broader Shriver Basin. Shriver Basin angled inland from the dividing spot and Main […]
Mule and Boy Statue at Canal Place
The statue signifies Cumberland’s role in the C&O Canal. Mules were used to tow boats along the Canal because they were cheaper to purchase than horses and were less prone […]
Cumberland Main Street
Cumberland’s Historic City Center is a three-block hub with restaurants, unique shops, art galleries, and music venues housed in significant turn-of-the-century architecture.
Sharpsburg
The town of Sharpsburg is a monument to sacrifice and fortitude. In 1763 the town was originally called Sharps Burgh, in honor of Governor Horatio Sharpe, and became the first […]
Historic Great Falls Tavern
The Great Falls Tavern serves as a C&O Canal National Historical Park Visitor Center. Visit the Park’s website for more information. Great Falls is one of the most popular spots […]
The Gordon-Roberts House
The Gordon-Roberts House was built in 1867 by Josiah Hance Gordon, a prominent attorney in Cumberland.The Second Empire style home is operated as a house museum and is opened to […]
Canal Boat Replica
A replica canal boat, “The Cumberland”, is available to be viewed in the Festival Grounds of Canal Place. For guided tours check with the C&O Canal Museum and Visitor Center […]
George Washington’s Headquarters
Historic log cabin in Cumberland, Maryland, which served as Washington’s headquarters during the French and Indian War and briefly during the Whiskey Rebellion
C&O Canal Museum and Visitor Center in Cumberland
The C&O Canal National Historical Park’s Cumberland Visitor Center is located in the historic Western Maryland Railway Station in Cumberland, MD. It serves as a museum dedicated to the history […]
National Road Monument
This monument commemorates the 200th anniversary of the National Road’s construction, which began in 1811. The monument is situated at the approximate start of the road’s original route on Greene […]
Canal Place Preservation & Development Authority
Transportation heritage is alive at Canal Place, Maryland’s FIRST Certified Heritage Area. Enjoy shops, restaurants and museums, all within walking distance!
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Station
Daytime scenic excursions leave the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Station for three hour round trips to Frostburg, with a one hour stop, before making the return trip. Check out the […]
Cumberland
Cumberland is a beautiful town nestled in one of the few natural passable cuts in the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland. It is listed in the National Register of Historic […]
Shrivers Basin and Main Basin
Near downtown Cumberland, the Canal divided into two elongated turning basins for boats: Main Basin and the broader Shriver Basin. Shriver Basin angled inland from the dividing spot and Main […]
Hancock Historical Society Town Museum
The Hancock Historical Society was incorporated in 1986, and the Hancock Museum opened a year later. The museum exhibits town history and transportation, housing a large library of genealogy files, […]
Bowles House/C&O Canal Visitor Center
The Bowles House has witnessed early settlement on undeveloped land, a race west between rail and canal, and a period of transition as advancements in transportation eased the country into […]
Hancock
Hancock has a rich history and a unique place in the state of Maryland. It’s located in the narrowest part of the state—less than two miles separate the Pennsylvania and […]
Fort Frederick State Park
Bordering the Potomac River and surrounding parts of the C&O Canal is Fort Frederick State Park. A 585-acre park in the Cumberland Valley of Maryland, it is named after Fort […]
Springfield Barn and Museum
Wander down Potomac Street onto Springfield Lane to see a wide-open view that will take you back in time. Built circa 1755 by Williamsport’s founder Otho Holland Williams, the Springfield […]
Williamsport
Centrally located along the C&O Canal, Williamsport, Maryland is a thriving small town and bustling area for locals and tourists alike. It also has a rich history. The town’s location […]
Potomac Edison Power Plant
Dam No. 4 reaches 800 feet across the river. Its original rock rubble construction was no match for periodic floods on the Potomac, so it was eventually restored as a […]
Sharpsburg
The town of Sharpsburg is a monument to sacrifice and fortitude. In 1763 the town was originally called Sharps Burgh, in honor of Governor Horatio Sharpe and became the first […]
Shepherdstown
The oldest town in West Virginia, Shepherdstown pre-dates the Revolutionary War. It is a quaint town filled with artisanal shops and eateries and is home to Shepherd University, which adds […]
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
The town of Harpers Ferry, wedged below high ridgelines and tightly packed on a small point of land at the confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah, is rich in […]
Harpers Ferry & Bolivar
Harpers Ferry is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers where Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet. This junction of two rivers made it a natural site […]
Brunswick
The Brunswick area was once home to the Susquehanna Native Americans. Because of the eel fishing in the Potomac River at that time, the area was named Eel Town or […]
Point of Rocks
Point of Rocks, 14 miles south of Frederick, Maryland, has for centuries been at transportation crossroads, starting with the Native Americans who used the area for major river crossings, lodging, […]
Kanawha Spring
Swiss nobleman Christoph Graffenreid was attracted to the “small lake with many springs” he found at these “enchanted islands in the Potomac River above the falls.” Archeologists have determined that […]
Poolesville
Poolesville, a town of 6,000 people in western Montgomery County, Maryland, is a worthwhile diversion for Canal travelers. From the towpath, it can be accessed via 5-mile rides on Whites […]
Incline Plane
Did the canal boats really move on a plane? Yes! However, it wasn’t an airplane, but an inclined plane. It was all about Georgetown traffic. Canal boatmen spent around 20 […]
Start of Towpath
From Mile 0, Rock Creek and the Rock Creek Park Trail, take a left toward Georgetown onto the modern version of the towpath, which starts as a brick path on […]