Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park

Visitors to the Washington D.C. area should consider a stop at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. This park stretches for over 184 miles, and is meant to protect the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Park visitors get to experience nature, and learn about the history of this unique mode of transportation.

Canal Quarters Program

Visitors to the canal can learn about its construction and use through the Canal Quarters Interpretative Program. They are invited to stay in a lockhouse for an entire day and night and experience a replica of life on the C&O Canal. Furnishings and household objects are made to resemble those from the 1830s when the house was used to keep the locks. Guests take on the role of family members in the lock keeper's family. There are two locks that were renovated for this program.

Enjoying the outdoors

Guests who are not up for an entire day and night in a lock house can still enjoy the beauty of the canal. Summers are very humid, so dress for the occasion. Winters are generally cold and snowy; walking shoes are suggested.

History of the canal

All visitors have the opportunity to learn some basic facts about the history of the canal. It stretches across Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia and was essential to the success of the coal, lumber and grain industries in this region.

If you are visiting Washington D.C., stop by Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park for a unique learning experience. Whether you spend a night in the lock house or an afternoon exploring, the experience is not one that is quickly forgotten.