Great Falls, Maryland... Flooded

After I got back from Florida, I had Friday off and well I believe I didn't leave the house, I was so tired. So saturday Jim and I packed up the car and took the 15 minute drive over to Great Falls, Maryland. Its on the other side of the Potomac and with all the rain we got that week, the river was flooding. This limited some of the hiking options but it was a nice crowded walk.

This side is called the Cheasapeake & Ohio Canal National Park. It was declared a national park by Eisenhower in 1961, to prevent further decay of the canal. The C&O runs from Georgetown to Cumberland, MD, 184 miles. It used to be called "The Grand Old Ditch" and started in 1828 and was not complete until 1850! It operated from 1850 until 1924, when a series of severe floods damaged the canal beyond feasible repair, especially with the use of railroads. Its main purpose while operational was the transportation of coal from the Alleghany mountains to DC.

It was purchased by the government in 1938 and handed over to the national park service to restore. They restored the bottom parts of the canal (this section) and rewatered it. I believe in the summer one can take a boat ride up the canal, actually by a two-mule powered boat. (we have ventured further up and the canal is not in good shape, it does look like a ditch). When WWII came, they abondoned the canal to put resources elsewhere and I don't think any more restoration has occurred since then in substantial amounts.

In the 50's there was talk of making the canal a parkway! But thanks to some people, including Associate Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, who hiked the entire length of the canal with 9 others, drew publicity to the cause and had the entire canal turned over to a towpath. In 1971 it was designated a national park.

This is the Park Visitor Center for Great Falls Tavern. This building has stood here since 1831, it has a few additions but is very similar. The town supported I believe 100 people.

One of the locks w/o water. Continued flood damaged and decreased the functionality of some of the locks and canal itself.

Flooded Potomac

I told you it was crowded! Over 3 million visitors annually

Close to the pedestrian bridge to go over to Bear Island, it was closed off.

raging river, no kaykers there

I'm looking forward to going this summer, hiking it and seeing the difference.

C&O canal rewatered.

Parts look like this and in a post soon, I will show what it looks like further up where no restoration of the canal has occurred.