Nestled along the Potomac River and spanning across four Maryland counties and into the District of Columbia, the C&O Canal National Historical Park is a living, breathing time capsule dating back to 1850. For visitors today, the Park is a place of refuge, where you can bike, walk, fish, or paddle across 184.5 miles from Cumberland to Georgetown, Maryland.
The best way to experience the rich history and natural beauty of the C&O Canal? Book a stay with the C&O Canal Trust’s Canal Quarters program. Staying overnight in one of seven rehabilitated lockhouses allows visitors to wake up to the sights and sounds of the park, while also providing them with an immersive experience of what life was like for lock keepers and their families during the canal’s heyday.
At any given time, as many as 530 or more canal boats worked their way back and forth between Georgetown and Cumberland and points in between. Lock keepers and their families were responsible for maintaining the locks and water levels, working at all hours of the day and night to help traveling boaters traverse the canal.
Each of the seven lockhouses have been rehabilitated to provide users with a unique experience, and not all of them are the same. Each house interprets a different time period, weaving a visual story that displays a different canal era including the Great Depression, the early twentieth century, and the Civil War.
In these houses, history literally comes alive. Time machines may not be real, but the Canal Quarters program nearly makes that possible. “All the old-timey furniture and little ‘exhibits’ made me feel like I was sleeping in an adorable museum. The toys and books upstairs were a cute addition to the setting that put us back in time,” writes the Lotts Family in one of the guestbooks that can be found in each of the houses.
Visitors can also choose between a rustic, hybrid-amenity, or full-amenity option. The rustic lockhouses (Lockhouses 22, 25, and 28) are a true step back in time with no modern amenities, while the full amenity lockhouses (Lockhouses 6,10, and 21) and hybrid (Lockhouse 49) have heat, A/C, electricity, and running water.
All seven locations sleep up to eight people and provide easy access to the park and the Potomac River where visitors can explore iconic C&O Canal landmarks. With nearly 200 miles of park land to explore, a trip to the C&O Canal can be a little daunting. Build your itinerary before you go with the Explorer App, curating a personalized trip that accommodates the whole family.
“What a wonderfully historic yet updated place to stay! Right on the trail! I have stayed at three lockhouses, and each of them are so unique and quaint with wonderful proximity to the canal,” said guest Greg.
Since 2009, thousands of guests from all over the country have traveled back in time with the Canal Quarters program. Staying in one of the lockhouses directly supports the preservation of canal history and the maintenance of these historic buildings. You can sleep soundly knowing that you helped contribute to the protection of C&O Canal.
Preserve the past while making memories that will last a lifetime. Visit canalquarters.org to make your reservation, and see for yourself the magic of the C&O Canal National Historical Park!
