Williamsport in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Life on the Canal
C&O Canal
Photographed by F. Robby, June 29, 2016
1. Life on the Canal Marker
"I would get acquainted with the life of the canal...for I had see nothing of the live boats and still livelier, the barge men, tow boys, cooks and lockkeepers which make up the life of the canal in summer."
Captions
"The coal was dumped ten tons at a time, a dozen car loads furnishing the one hundred and twenty tons that the boat carried."
"We could see a point of light dimly in the distance; this was the far end of the tunnel which grew larger and brighter as we sailed slowly, very slowly, along, while the end we entered frew smaller and smaller."
"As we came in sight of the lock the captain brought out his tin horn and gave several loud blasts. The tin horn was almost as much a part of the outfit as the mule."
"There were some three or four hundred boats on the canal in every stage of repairs Captain Coss owned his own boat, the "Caroline of Williamsport," in honor of the town he was from."
"Taking a few steps to get a nearer view of the animals (mules), one of the tow boys yelled 'take care there, them mules will kick a chaw of tobacco out of a man's mouth three rods off!'"
"At last the journey has ended. We had passed the last lock sailed over the last level Here I packed my things and
this page online
These quotes come from the "Life on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal 1859" book, edited by Ella E. Clark and Thomas F. Hahn, published in November 1977. The author is unknown.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1977.
Location. 39° 36.036′ N, 77° 49.65′ W. Marker is in Williamsport, Maryland, in Washington County. It can be reached from West Potomac Street (U.S. 11). Marker is along the C&O Canal Towpath, right next to the Cushwa Basin, and about 200 feet south of the Conococheaque Aqueduct. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 W Potomac St, Williamsport MD 21795, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region and in Western Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Williamsport (a few steps from this marker); C & O Canal Aqueduct (a few steps from this marker); Gettysburg Campaign (a few steps from this marker); Cushwa Basin/Williamsport (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to Williamsport (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The C&O Canal in Williamsport (about 400 feet away); C&O Canal (about
Photographed by F. Robby, June 29, 2016
2. Life on the Canal Marker
View east from the marker, toward the Cushwa Basin. The Cushwa warehouse beyond the basin is now the National Park Service visitor center for the canal at Williamsport.
Other markers no longer nearby. Creating a National Park (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Williamsport (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); The Conococheague Aqueduct Restoration (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Connecting People and Places (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Conococheague Creek Aqueduct (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. This marker appears to have replaced the "Creating a National Park" marker that was here in 2012. It is currently (2016) the only marker located in the narrow area between the tow path and the basin.
Photographed by F. Robby, June 29, 2016
3. Life on the Canal Marker
View north toward the Conococheaque Aqueduct.
Photographed by F. Robby, June 29, 2016
4. Life on the Canal Marker
View south toward the railroad lift bridge, which is just beyond the US route 11 highway bridge in the distance.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2025
5. Life on the Canal Marker
The marker is damaged.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 513 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on September 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 17, 2016, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 5. submitted on September 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
