Volunteering to help the park: A work crew installs a bench near Great Falls in 2016.
Supporting park projects: Catoctin Aqueduct after collapse in 1973
Supporting park projects: Catoctin Aqueduct after restoration effort in 2011
Exploring history and nature: Sideling Hill Creek Aqueduct as viewed from the Western Maryland Rail Trail.
Protecting the canal since 1954: The association opposes Georgetown University’s plan to build a large boathouse in the park
Protecting the canal since 1954: The association opposes Georgetown University’s plan to build a large boathouse in the park
Exploring history and nature: Hikers gather at Fifteen Mile Creek Aqueduct in 2018.
Protecting the canal since 1954: Justice Douglas and eight others pause during their famous hike, which publicized the canal in 1954
Exploring history and nature: Ranger provides interpretation for hikers at Seneca Stone Cutting Mill in 2020.
Exploring history and nature: Hikers marvel at a large specimen during a tree identification walk in 2012
Volunteering to help the park: Association volunteer attaches plaque to newly installed bench in 2018.
Exploring history and nature: Association members participate in the last day of the 2009 Thru Hike at Great Falls
Volunteering to help the park: Association member helps install an identification sign at Landers in 2011
Exploring history and nature: Hikers gather at Dam 5 in 2019.
Protecting the canal since 1954: Justice Douglas and others rally against replacing the canal with a highway.
Volunteering to help the park: Association members repaint picnic tables at Swains Lock
Volunteering to help the park: Association volunteers assemble picnic table in 2018.
A view across the Potomac River at the former site of Dam #3 that served the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal upstream from Harper's Ferry.
Remnants of this dam can be seen in this area that paddlers sometimes refer to as "The needles" because navigating can be line threading a needle through fabric.
The Potomac River was first dammed here in 1799 to supply water to the Harper's Ferry Armory. It was rebuilt in 1809 and 1820. It was known as the "Government Dam" and required frequent repairs.
The C&O Canal originally intended to build its third dam below the confluence with the Shenandoah River, but by the time it reached Harper's Ferry in 1833, it ran into financial difficulties. The federal government allowed the canal to use water from the existing dam.
The canal was abandoned in 1924, and canal boats loaded with rocks were intentionally sunk above the dam to help divert water to the power canal on the West Virginia side.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Lock 34, also known as Goodheart's Lock, near Harper's Ferry along the Potomac River.
The lock is made of limestone except a few red sandstone blocks that were likely replacements after flooding.
The lock house was of brick construction on stone foundation, and sat on the berm side, but was washed away in the 1936 flood.
The last lock tendervwas Willard "Coon" Goodheart, who was still living in the lock house despite the fact that the canal closed in 1924.
Goodheart had moved belongings to the second floor, including chickens, but the building began to buckle under pressure. Goodheart escaped by boat just before collapse.
The canal east of here is built on the Patowmack Company Long Canal constructed in the 1780s around the rapids.