The C&O Canal National Historical Park and the C&O Canal Association co-hosted a symposium July 24, 2010 on the early years of C&O Canal engineering. The program was held at Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV. Presentations were given by:
- Steve Pennington, a geotechnical engineer and chair of the History and Heritage Committee of the Capitol Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Subject: Benjamin Wright, C&O Chief Engineer, June 1828 – Fall 1830 - Dr. Emory Kemp, an engineering historian and Professor of Civil Engineering at West Virginia University.
Subject: Life of Charles Ellet Jr., an early American civil engineer and who worked on the C&O Canal as an assistant engineer - Dr. Robert J. Kapsch, an engineering historian and author of books and studies on canals.
Subject: Structures on various canals focusing on the Monocacy Aqueduct - Denis McMullen, an historical preservation engineer specializing in masonry structures and was lead engineer in the restoration of the Monocacy Aqueduct.
Subject: Reconstruction of the Catoctin Aqueduct
Following the presentations, Ranger Sam Tamburro, an historian and manager of the Culture Resources Program at the C&O Canal NHP, moderated a panel discussion.
Prior to the presentations, Ranger Beth Clawson gave a guided tour of the canal across from Shepherdstown and of the new James Rumsey Bridge.
Honorariums given to the presenters were provided by the association and amounted to $600.
Other expenses incurred that were paid for by the association: $1,016.
The event was planned and organized by Karen Gray, a member of the association.
(Updated December 2018.)