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.
MUSEUM WEEK IS ALMOST HERE!
Visit the C&O Canal Museum for a look back at the history of the Canal and the impacts that it made to our region. The museum is located on the first floor of the Maryland Railway Station and features archives, replica's and even a tunnel. Visit: www.mdmountainside.com/museum-week/ for more details about Museum Week. #MuseumWeekMD
Is this free access?
Happy Canal Fact Friday and #PreservationMonth! In March, City staff collaborated with Carr Properties to salvage and relocate 144 Alexandria Canal stones uncovered during construction at 425 Montgomery Street, for eventual re-use within a waterfront park. The canal stones have been temporarily relocated to the adjacent Montgomery Park for future integration into the construction effort associated with the Waterfront Flood Mitigation Project. You can see the stones lining the west side of Montgomery Park. Learn more about the project at alexandriava.gov/go/6378.
"The C&O Canal aqueducts are “water bridges” that carried canal boats over the creeks and rivers that flow into the Potomac River. Built from 1829 to 1833, the Monocacy Aqueduct is the third of twelve such “works of art” on the canal. With just one glace, visitors are struck with the magnitude of this marvelous seven arched structure. The glistening white and pink quartz sandstone structure is the longest aqueduct along the C&O Canal measuring in at 516 feet. At the time of the Civil War, during the Maryland Campaign of 1862, the Monocacy Aqueduct was nearly destroyed by Confederate General D.H. Hill. However, concerned Lockkeeper Thomas Walter persuaded the Confederate troops that destroying Lock 27 would be far more impactful in their pursuit. Today, the Monocacy Aqueduct still stands thanks to restoration work that was completed in 2004 and continual preservation of this structural gem. " - NPS
The Monocacy Aqueduct was the second of eleven aqueducts constructed and was known as Aqueduct No. 2. The stones are quartzite and came from the property of Joseph Johnson. There were two quarries opened on his property including the white and red quarries. In addition to destroying lock 27 Thomas Walter persuaded the Confederates to destroy the Little Monocacy River culvert. Because of his actions, Walter was fired as lock tender and was replaced by Allen Benson. Walter became a boatman on the canal. In 1831 Walter had the contract to build culvert number 44 that later was converted into an aqueduct after the culvert washed out. This aqueduct became known as the Trunk Aqueduct.