Forming part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Allegany County, the C&O Canal - Paw Paw Tunnel is a 3,118-foot-long canal tunnel that was built to bypass a six-mile stretch of the Potomac River with five tightly curved horseshoe-shaped bends known as the Paw Paw Bends.

Named after a local fruit, the Paw Paw Tunnel had a tumultuous history with construction beginning in 1836 and seeing a lot of fighting and rioting among the workers during its construction.

On completion, the 24-foot tall tunnel was 3,000-foot-long and used by canal boats pulled by mules. Eventually, the tunnel was abandoned and, as legend has it, is haunted to this day.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, Oldtown, MD 21555, Phone: 301-722-8226

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