Introduction Credits:
T Carter and M. Brach

Introduction Date:
2/25/2006

Introduction Text:

In early 19th century America transportation of raw materials or finished goods was important. Within the first half of the century, as a part of the great Industrial Revolution, the United States enjoyed the age of canal building. The most famous is the Erie Canal connecting Lake Erie with the Hudson River—linking the Great Lakes region to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was one of a network of American canals dug to provide water transportation for commercial trade, primarily hauling coal. Running parallel to the powerful Potomac River, the 184.5-mile canal linked Cumberland, Maryland with Washington, D.C. The C & O Canal operated successfully as a mode of transportation from 1828-1924, until outmoded by the railroad. Over the following two decades, the C & O experienced severe damage from major flooding. The U.S. Government restored and repurposed the canal as a park in 1938. Unfortunately, in 1942, yet another devastating flood destroyed the restoration.

In 1950, the assistant Secretary of the Interior proposed to demolish the damaged canal, replacing it with a super-highway. On July 3, 1954, a Washington Post editorial advocated the road plan. Consequently, the historic C & O Canal faced its sunset—until various citizen associations, namely the C & O Canal Association and Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas took action to preserve the canal. Douglas, an avid naturalist, objected to the road plan because he feared the destruction of the natural habitat of the animals present and the beauty of the area in general. On January 19, 1954 a letter to the editor from Douglas appeared in the Post. Douglas challenged the editor(s) to walk with him along the entire 185-mile canal towpath. He believed the Post editors would change their minds on the road plan if they could only see the beauty of the area. In March of 1954 the Post editors along with other naturalists and preservationists departed from Georgetown for the 185-mile walk to Cumberland, MD. Public outcry over paving the canal led to heated debates in Congress over bills for both the road plan and ones to designate the C & O Canal a National Historical Park. In 1970, Maryland Representative Gilbert Gude introduced a designation bill that would suceed. On January 8, 1971, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Historical Park Act was passed. Even though the preservationist groups succeeded in their efforts to preserve the canal, there was opposition from groups who would benefit from a road.

There is much to discover about the nearly 50 years from the closing of canal operations to its designation as a National Historical Park in 1971. Exploration of the controversial history of the C & O Canal is possible through various primary sources—digital copies of original documents, diaries, letters, artwork, music, maps and photographs. Enjoy the journey!

• 1824 Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company chartered
• July 4, 1828 Ground breaking ceremony for the C & O
• 1850 C & O Canal completed to Cumberland, Maryland
• 1877 & 1889 Devastating floods
• 1892 Canal repaired and back in business
• 1924 Flooding damaged and permanently closed down Canal
• 1938 U.S. Government acquired Canal and started restoration
• 1939 Canal dedicated as a public park
• 1950 Highway construction proposed by the Assistant Secretary of Interior
• January 19, 1954 Justice William O. Douglas wrote a letter to the editor (The Washington Post) challenging editors to hike the entire Canal with him
• January 21, 1954 Post editors accept Douglas’s invitation
• March 20, 1954 The hike began—finishing eight days later, with the editors agreeing that the C & O Canal should be preserved
• January 8, 1971
President Richard M. Nixon signed an act establishing the C & O Canal National Historical Park
• May 17, 1977 C & O Canal dedicated to Justice William O. Douglas.