Volunteering to help the park: A work crew installs a bench near Great Falls in 2016.
Supporting park projects: Catoctin Aqueduct after collapse in 1973
Supporting park projects: Catoctin Aqueduct after restoration effort in 2011
Exploring history and nature: Sideling Hill Creek Aqueduct as viewed from the Western Maryland Rail Trail.
Protecting the canal since 1954: The association opposes Georgetown University’s plan to build a large boathouse in the park
Protecting the canal since 1954: The association opposes Georgetown University’s plan to build a large boathouse in the park
Exploring history and nature: Hikers gather at Fifteen Mile Creek Aqueduct in 2018.
Protecting the canal since 1954: Justice Douglas and eight others pause during their famous hike, which publicized the canal in 1954
Exploring history and nature: Ranger provides interpretation for hikers at Seneca Stone Cutting Mill in 2020.
Exploring history and nature: Hikers marvel at a large specimen during a tree identification walk in 2012
Volunteering to help the park: Association volunteer attaches plaque to newly installed bench in 2018.
Exploring history and nature: Association members participate in the last day of the 2009 Thru Hike at Great Falls
Volunteering to help the park: Association member helps install an identification sign at Landers in 2011
Exploring history and nature: Hikers gather at Dam 5 in 2019.
Protecting the canal since 1954: Justice Douglas and others rally against replacing the canal with a highway.
Volunteering to help the park: Association members repaint picnic tables at Swains Lock
Volunteering to help the park: Association volunteers assemble picnic table in 2018.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Lock 38, Washington County Maryland. The little community here opposite Shepherdstown West Virginia was known as Bridgeport. It contained an inn built in 1775 by Thomas Van Swearingen, a frame feed store and other dwellings including a brick lock house on the berm side.
This lock lifted boats five feet, which was atypical because most C&O Canal locks were eight feet. The bypass flume was partially covered.
The lock is in good shape, built of limestone from the West Virginia shore.
The area was also important as an historic crossing of the Potomac River.
The lock housecwas destroyed in the flood of 1936. The inn was destroyed in 1972.
A ferry was established early on, and the first covered bridge was built in 1850 from near the east end of the lock.
The bridge was destroyed and replaced in 1861 by fire, and 1889 and 1936 by flooding. In 1939, the James Rumsey Bridge was built, named for the innovative steamboat inventor.
The C&O Canal closed in 1924 and is now a national historic park.
