1825 The C&O Canal Company is chartered to construct a shipping canal to connect the Chesapeake Bay to the Ohio River Valley 1828 Construction begins on the C&O Canal at Little Falls, Maryland
1850 Construction is completed in Cumberland, Maryland 1889 A major flood sends the C&O Canal Company into receivership and the B&O Railroad becomes a primary creditor 1924 C&O Canal goes out of business 1938 U.S. government acquires C&O Canal 1938-1942 Civilian Conservation Corps work to restore the lower 20 miles of the C&O Canal for historic and recreational purposes 1954 A historic hike to preserve the C&O Canal that includes Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas 1971 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal established as a National Historical Park
Natural Resources
980,000 feet of exterior boundary 19,586 acres of land 167 state rare, threatened or endangered plant species 1,200 vascular plant species 1,100 acres managed for agricultural use
Cultural Resources
673,269 objects and archival documents in museum collection 1,191 historic structures 74 lift locks 11 aqueducts 7 dams
Facilities
184.5 miles of historic towpath for hiking, biking, walking 31 Hiker Biker Overnight Campsites 6 Visitor Centers 5 Drive-In Campgrounds
