Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

United States

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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Back to West Virginia to Ohio to Maryland to Delaware to Virginia

History

Construction on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (also known as "the Grand Old Ditch" or the "C&O Canal") began in 1828 but was not completed until 1850. Even then, the canal fell far short of its intended destination of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Instead, the canal terminated at Cumberland for a total distance of approximately 184.5 miles. The canal was already considered obsolete by the time it was completed because a railroad line had arrived in Cumberland eight years before the canal was finally finished. The C&O Canal operated from 1831 to 1924 and served primarily as a means to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains to Washington D.C. The canal was closed in 1924 in part due to several severe floods that had a devastating impact on the financial condition of the canal. The canal and towpath trail extends from Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland, a distance of 184.5 miles (296.9 km).

Records

The records of this Canal may be found in the National Park Service Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Also records of workers on the C & O and other records concerning the C & O may be found in the following County records:

• Allegany County, Maryland
• Washington County, Maryland
• Frederick County, Maryland
• Montgomery County, Maryland
• District of Columbia
• Jefferson County, West Virginia
• Morgan County, West Virginia
• Berkeley County, West Virginia

Maps

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Websites

• National Park Service Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
• Construction on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park