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 West Virginia borders, and it’s one of the oldest settlements in western Maryland. In the mid 1700s a trading post was based here, and George Washington was known to have visited the area on several occasions. With the establishment of the National Road, Hancock grew as a transportation hub in the early 1800s. The combined expansion of transportation routes coupled with the construction of the C&O Canal in the 1830s made Hancock a booming commercial center and brought an influx of immigrants to the area. During the Civil War, General Stonewall Jackson attacked but was never able to overtake the town due to severe weather conditions.
Today, Hancock is a thriving small town that offers a slower-paced way of life, though it is only two hours from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. An active arts council sponsors concerts and events, and there are art galleries, a unique veterans memorial, numerous historical sites, great natural resources, and shops, including a bike shop with rentals and repairs. Hancock was designated Maryland’s official Trail Town in 2020. Besides the C&O Canal, the Tuscarora Trail runs through Hancock, and it is the trailhead for the Western Maryland Rail Trail, a 28-mile paved route that parallels the C&O Canal.
About the Canal Towns Partnership
Photos by Sinclair Hamilton, Sam Judge, Leigh Scott, GPS Rangers