C & O Canal, Maryland

The C & O canal was a 184.5 mile canal that ran alongside the Potomac River.  Mules were used to pull the boats along the canal and a series of locks were built to raise or lower the boats to make up the change of elevation.  The canal was used to bring supplies into the Washington DC area.  One of the most needed supplies was coal, but the barges also brought food supplies.  The canal was in operation for almost 100 years, but a combination of a flood in 1924 that damaged the canal in many places and the growing availability of the railroads caused the need for the canal to come to an end.  Since the canal was filled with water that was diverted from the Potomac, much of the canal is dry now.  We were able to explore the canal in 3 different areas.  Much of the length of the canal is now available for recreational use, walking and biking.