Product Description

With the founding of his Patowmack Company in 1785, George Washington first hoped to make the Potomac River a viable route to Americaís West. The skirting canals the company constructed around the Great Falls rapids at Harpers Ferry, Seneca, and Little Falls made the Potomacís rushing waters navigable. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company was chartered by Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in 1828 to build a truly useful canal through to the Ohio Valley. President John Quincy Adams turned the first spadeful of dirt on Independence Day of 1828 for what was hailed as the ìGreat National Projectî to connect Georgetown to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The canal created an entire community of people and a way of life different from any other. At the height of operations, over 500 boats plied the 184.5 miles of the canalís waters. After many financial difficulties, competition from railroads, and the devastating effects of the Civil War as well as a flood, the canal went into receivership and was closed in 1924. In 1954, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas brought attention back to the canal with a fight to preserve the natural beauty for local residents. Today, the canalólisted as a National Historical Parkóprovides thousands with recreational opportunities, scenic nature trails, and gorgeous views. ÝÝ

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1400392 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-24
• Released on: 2003-11-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
Join author Mary H. Rubin in a look back at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as seen through the photographs of days gone by. Images from the C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters depict the canalís vital role in the growth of our nation. Take a walk through history in this retrospective and remember the days of the C&O Canal and the legacy it has left.