The history and beauty of the C&O Canal

The C&O Canal is a national historical park in Maryland that preserves and celebrates the history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The canal was built in the 1820s and served as a way to transport coal and other goods on barges from Cumberland, MD to Washington, DC. Today, there are over 180 miles of towpath for visitors to walk, run, or bike along. The park also has many historical stops including lock houses, aqueducts, and the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center. The scenery is stunning, with many opportunities to see wildlife and beautiful views of the Potomac River. I was impressed by the ingenuity and hard work required to build such an impressive canal system in the 19th century.