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Special Features
Bikes, Barges and Trains (Part 1)
©April 2005 by Peter Lynn
 Return to Bikes, Barges and Trains Return to Special Features
Chesapeake And Ohio Canal National Historic Park : Maryland
Area Mountain Bike Trails: Maryland
The towpath of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park provides a level, continuous crushed stone trail through the spectacular setting of the Potomac River Valley. It is an ideal canal vacation experience. Natural, cultural and recreational opportunities abound within the park. Enhance your experience of the canal with a ride in a reproduction canal boat pulled by mules. These animals are cared for far better today than they were during the canal era and help make the historical re-creation a success.
Park rangers, in period clothing, describe what life was like for the families that lived and worked on the canal. The trip lasts around one hour, leaves from either the Georgetown or Great Falls Visitor Center and runs from mid April through mid October. Always call ahead for current status of canal boat rides.
The canal played an important role in commerce and industry, transportation, westward expansion and even the Civil War. The Potowmack Company was organized in 1785 to carry out the mission envisioned by George Washington himself. Expanded and improved over the years, it operated from 1828-1924. This east-west link was a lifeline for the communities and businesses that were founded along the route. Original structures including locks, lockhouses and aqueducts remind us of the canal’s role in our history.
Contact information:
Georgetown Visitor Center
1057 Thomas Jefferson St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
Phone: 202-653-5190
Great Falls Visitor Center
11710 MacArthur Blvd.
Potomac, MD 20854
Phone: 301-767-3714
Website: www.canalboats.com |
