virtual tour of the C&O Canal
The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is 184.5 miles long and is part
of the National Parks Service. Today, according to the N.P.S.,
millions of people enjoy biking and hiking the canal’s towpath.
The canal used to be a lifeline lifeline for communities and
businesses along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, grain and
other agricultural products floated down the canal to market.
One of the more unique features of the canal is the Paw Paw
Tunnel. The tunnel is 3,118 feet long and is lined with over six
million bricks. The 3/4 mile long tunnel saved the canal builders
almost six miles of construction along the Paw Paw bends of the
Potomac River. It took twelve years to build and was only wide
enough for single lane traffic.
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