One of the best preserved and least altered of old American canals, the Chesapeake and Ohio grew from Washington’s vision of linking the valleys of the early west with the east by “ties of communication.” The Potomac Company fostered by Washington to improve navigation of the Potomac transferred its rights in 1828 to the Chesapeake and Ohio Company organized to connect the Ohio at Pittsburg with Georgetown by a continuous canal. In October 1850 after 185 miles were built the construction ceased at Cumberland. Until 1924 trade continued on the old canal. Today, it is a memorial to national progress and the canal era.
The history of the canal runs parallel with the history of the B&O Railroad. You can check Steve Okonski’s B&O RR Photo Tours site for a mile-by-mile guided tour of the B&O routes heading out from Baltimore.
I came here from Matt’s RAGBRAI blog. You have some amazing photos here! The techno-nerd in me likes the illustrations, also. :-)