News
On April 26, 2011, the C&O Canal National Historical Park placed a replica canal launch boat into the water at Cushwa Basin at Williamsport, Maryland, for testing and evaluation. At the event, park officials and community leaders spoke about future canal launch operations and the future of the C&O Canal in Williamsport.
Dward Moore, the C&O Canal Association's immediate past president, recorded the launching of the boat in a video available on YouTube. The background information below is from a National Park Service news release:
BACKGROUND: During the late 19th and early 20th century, in contrast to the 90 foot mule drawn canal cargo boats that were the dominate vessels on the C&O Canal, smaller battery or steam powered launch boats traveled the canal. These launch boats were used for pleasure and canal business.
The National Park Service is testing and evaluating this launch. A total of five launches will be acquired for C&O Canal National Historical Park. The launches will be 30 feet in length and will carry 15-18 visitors. With their smaller size the launches can be moved to a variety of smaller watered stretches of the canal to serve visitors; including Widewater, Pennyfield, Williamsport, Big Pool, Hancock, and Cumberland. The launches may also be used for education programs for many of the tens of thousands of school students who come to the park each year.
