Point of Rocks

Point of Rocks. The C&O Canal. , The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was an ambitious project to provide access from the east coast into the rapidly developing western areas of the United States. Construction on the C&O Canal began July 4, 1828. It originated in Georgetown (Washington, DC) and eventually traversed 185 miles to Cumberland, Maryland by 1850 (short of its original coal of the Ohio River)., The canal was in direct but brief competition with the quickly expanding railroads. Point of Rocks was a point of contention between the two emerging forms of transportation due to the limited buildable area at the rock outcrop into the Potomac. Construction was slow and intense, requiring skilled labor for many of the elements, which included locks, dams, aqueducts, and the towpath., The canal enjoyed success for a limited number of years, and was heavily used by Union forces during the Civil War., Despite the control measures, flooding was a constant problem for the canal and ultimately flood damage in 1889 and again in 1924 put an end to the canal's regular operations. In 1936, the canal's use was ended completely., [Sidebar:] , Did you know? , Today, the C&O Canal towpath is accessible to hikers, bikers, and horses. Many organizations offer information about visiting the canal path, including the National Park Service. It is possible to travel continuously from Georgetown to Cumberland with numerous access points along the way. The nearly level towpath makes for easy cycling., Whose Canal? , The C&O Canal changed ownership several times: ,

. The C&O Canal was acquired by the B&O Railroad to protect its rail right-of-way from competitors (Western Maryland Railroad) , . The C&O Canal, heavily damaged by severe flooding and lack of investment, was transferred from B&O ownership to the Federal Government in 1938 , . National Monument status was conferred in 1961, with C&O Canal National Historical Park established in 1971