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.
Happy Saturday! Take a look at this early 20th century postcard from the WCHS archives. We love its message: "We are having such a good time / Greetings from Big Pool, Maryland."
Did you know that Big Pool's big pool is a man-made lake created when the C&O Canal was built? It was used as a reservoir for the C&O Canal and was a convenient turning point for canal boats. Big Pool is quite a historic area, with Fort Frederick State Park not far away, and many outdoor activities available during summer!
#bigpoolmd #fortfrederickstatepark #washingtoncountymd
Historic view of the lower end of Guard Lock 4 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Washington County Maryland.
From here, the boats navigated in the pool created by Dam #4, with towpath built into the cliffs along the river. The section is known as Big Slackwater. The pool created by the dam is 14 miles long, but only about 3.5 miles of river navigation was needed before the next section of canal.
Historic 1904 view of the winch house and flood gate on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at Dam 4, Washington County Maryland.
The structure protected the canal at times of flooding. The towpath continued ahead, along the canal with the mile long guard wall to the left. Today, the trail ascends and follows the top of the guard wall. There are tow rope wear marks in the gate walls.
Dam #4 creates a pool 14 miles long to Williamsport Md. The canal travels the mile through here to Big Slackwater, a slackwater navigation area 3.5 miles long above the dam, with towpath built into the cliffs.
The dam here was completed in 1834 with crib style construction. It was rebuilt as a masonry structure in 1856, and was targeted during the Civil War. The latest incarnation was rebuilt in 1906-9.