C&O Canal
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
About the C&O canal
The C&O Canal is 20,000 acres and 184.5 miles long. The canal started being built in 1828 and ended 1850. It connects to other places like the Appalachian Trail. It is also home to what is considered a biodiversity “hotspot”: the Potomac Gorge. The Gorge is home to over 1,500 species, including birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. It has nearly 200 listed as rare or endangered. Inside the park you will be able to find 1,300 historic structures in states of repair. In 1978 the national park was established.
History of the C&O
The C&O Canal has been around for nearly 100 years. It originally was the lifeline for communities and businesses along the Potomac river. Things like grain, coal, and lumber floated down the canal to the market. It was just a dream of passage to the Western Wealth. It was first appreciated by George Washington, who spent most of his private life surveying the Potomac. It took 22 years to be built and was finished in 1950.
Old and New Pictures of the C&O
Overview Picture of C&O Canal
Photo shot in 1924 in Floods Williamsport, Maryland
The town of the C&O Canal
Some of the houses people lived in the early times are now used as houses for guests to stay in to feel what its like to live by the C&O
The C&O Canal today
Now the C&O Canal is full of nature and history.
Events or Trends
A event that the C&O provide is a corporation called Canal Trust. Canal trust works to protect, restore, and promote the C&O Canal. Canal Trust does has many future projects like restoring the ecological health of the park. It also provides a vacation spot where you can stay and experience what it was like to live along the canal. It provides a habitat for birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. It also provides a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures. C&O Canal Trust lastly helps provide a natural surrounding for people who enjoy strolling, bird watching, hiking, and more.