Georgetown in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

An Industrial Georgetown

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

An Industrial Georgetown Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 18, 2015

1. An Industrial Georgetown Marker

Inscription. If you could have walked along the towpath here in the 19th and early 20th century, your senses would have been overwhelmed by industrial pollution. The dust from coal being unloaded from canal boats fogged the air. The stench of animal fat being mixed with lye at Hoffmyer's Tannery and Soap Factory would have overpowered you. The groan of water wheels powering four, grist, and paper mills would have been thunderous. A noisy, dusty and sometimes dangerous place, the canal brought raw goods such as coal, grain, wood, and stone to fuel Georgetown's bustling manufacturing district.

Today the evidence of Georgetown's industrial past is found in the architecture of buildings along the canal. Evidence of water outlets, bricked up chutes, smokestacks, and block and tackle still remain on many buildings. Reborn as offices, homes, and shops, the warehouses and mills of yesterday testify to Georgetown's humble beginnings and early struggle for prosperity.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal series list.

Location. 38°

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54.267′ N, 77° 4.068′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Georgetown. Marker can be reached from 34th Street Northwest south of M Street Northwest, on the right when traveling south. Along the C & O Towpath in Georgetown. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1111 34th Street Northwest, Washington DC 20007, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Window on Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Francis Scott Key Park … a place to reflect (within shouting distance of this marker); Forrest Marbury House (within shouting distance of this marker); Francis Scott Key Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Halcyon House (about 400 feet away); How High is the River? (about 400 feet away); Houses With A Prospect (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Halcyon House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 18, 2015

2. An Industrial Georgetown Marker

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 27, 2018

3. An Industrial Georgetown Marker

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 2, 2013

4. An Industrial Georgetown Marker

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 18, 2015

5. An Industrial Georgetown Marker

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 18, 2015

6. An Industrial Georgetown Marker

From the Key Bridge

Georgetown 1900 image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

7. Georgetown 1900

View from the Aqueduct Bridge looking east in 1900. The Washington Monument is faintly visible above the roofline on the far right.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, March 2, 2013

8. Horse

Architectural detail on nearby building

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 707 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on January 27, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on January 27, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 24, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.