Potomac in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Boats Passing By

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Historical Park

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

Boats Passing by Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

1. Boats Passing by Marker

Inscription. In days past, while standing on the edge of the canal one would see a variety of boats float by. During the peak operating years of the C&O canal in the 1870's, as many as 550 freight boats were in use on the canal carrying tons of coal from Cumberland to Georgetown. These were the most common boats associated with the canal. Mule freighters were only part of the story, a story can be told in boats.

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

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

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 0.003′ N, 77° 14.905′ W. Marker was in Potomac, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It could be reached from MacArthur Blvd. Marker is near the vistors Center at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac MD 20854, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Great Falls Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Great Falls Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington Aqueduct (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Great Falls (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Creating a National Park (about 400 feet away); A Geologic Barrier (about 600 feet away); Fighting Floods (about 700 feet away); Olmsted Island (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Potomac.

Another marker is no longer nearby. A Lift Lock (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . The Packet Boat Charles F. Mercer. Friends of Great Falls Tavern (Submitted on April 27, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

2. Boats Passing by Marker

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

3. Work Boats

Maintenance boats helped maintain the waterway by removing aquatic growth and debris, and responding to breaches and flood damage.Close-up of photo on marker

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

4. Launches

At the turn of the 20th century small engine-powered boats called launches or crusiers were used to explore and conduct canal business. Close-up of photo on marker

Packet Boats image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

5. Packet Boats

Horse drawn packet boats provided commercial excursions and passenger transportation. Close-up of photo on marker

Packet Boat<br>Charles F. Mercer image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

6. Packet Boat
Charles F. Mercer

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

7. Packet Boats

Packet Boats were boats for carrying people. Some of them were excursion boats — going to tourist sites like the Great Falls. Others were like mass transit — carrying passengers for a fee along the entire canal. Cramped and often crowded, but they were better than walking.Model in Great Falls Tavern Museum

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

8. Work Scows

Work Scows moved up and down the canal so that maintenance crews could make repairs. If a boatman saw a work scow, he knew that something was wrong with the canal that might delay his trip — he hoped that the crew fixed the problem so that he could be on his way. Model in Great Falls Tavern Museum

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

9. Cargo Boats

Cargo Boats were the essence of the C&O Canal. Designed to carry as much cargo as possible, these 90 foot long boats carried lumber stone, and coal — the most common cargo. Most of the boats were operated by families. The parents steered and operated the boat, and the children led the mules. It would take about a week to go the entire canal with a cargo boat. Model in Great Falls Tavern Museum

Two Certificates<br>on the Packet Boat Charles F. Mercer image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

10. Two Certificates
on the Packet Boat Charles F. Mercer

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 26, 2017

11. Two Certificates
on the Packet Boat Charles F. Mercer

Certificate of Authenticity
The American Canal Society certifies that this canal boat
Charles F. Mercer has met our design criteria as a reasonably authentic historic replica of a canal boat or type of canal boat that operated in this vicinity in the nineteenth century.
2011
www.americancanals.org
This is a replica of the original certificate

Dedication Certificate On September 9, 2006
Friends of the Historic Great Falls Tavern
Donated the Charles F. Mercer to the National Park Service
so that all may enjoy the experience of mule-powered transportation

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 539 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 27, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7, 8, 9. submitted on April 28, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 10, 11. submitted on May 2, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.