The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park is located near Hagerstown, in the District of Columbia and was established in 1961 to preserve the remains of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal along with its original structures.

The 184.5-mile long canal and the original towpath trail stretch along the Potomac River between Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and Cumberland, Maryland. The canal operated from 1831 until 1924 and was used to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains. The fascinating 19th-century feat of engineering that was locally known as “The Grand Old Ditch” has today a trail that follows the old towpath.

The whole area has become a popular center of outdoor activity, especially for hiking, biking, bird watching, and mule-drawn barge rides.

1850 Dual Hwy, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740-6620

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