News Release

Fall Events & Programs at C&O Canal

Date: August 30, 2018
Contact: Catherine Bragaw, 301-491-6265

Hagerstown, Md. - Fall is a great time to experience the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal). Come for a visit and bike or walk the towpath, stop by a visitor center, enjoy the arrival of fall colors and cooler days, or attend one of our special events. The park is open daily, and visitors are welcome to join rangers for the following special events and programs, September through November:

 

September - Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Potomac, Md. Interpretive program schedule:

• Meet the Mules, Thursdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. Meet one of our hard working canal mules and learn about their role in canal history.

• Tavern Talk, Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. Hear stories about the tavern’s colorful history during this 30-minute presentation.

• Boat Talk, Friday through Saturday, 12 p.m., Sunday 12 & 2 p.m. Join a park ranger aboard the Charles F. Mercer and learn about life on a canal boat during this 30-minute presentation.

• Great Falls Walking Tour, Friday and Saturday 2 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. Take a 1-hour walk along the towpath out to the mighty Great Falls on the Potomac and learn about the park’s natural and cultural history.

• Living History Demonstration: “Eels, Turtles, and Blackberry Pie” every Sunday in September (weather permitting) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about the the diet of those who lived and worked along the canal in the 19th century.

September  & October - Williamsport Launch Boat Tours, Williamsport Visitor Center, Williamsport, Md. These FREE 1-hour programs include riding in a historic replica canal launch boat from the Cushwa Basin to Lock 44 and back to the Cushwa Warehouse. Tour times are Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Reservations are taken by phone at [phone] or in-person, 7 days in advance, starting September 1, 2018.

September & October - Lockhouse 44 - Williamsport, Md., Saturdays and Sundays, 1:15-4:15 p.m. This historic lockhouse represents the life of locktenders in the early 20th century. Join a ranger to learn about life on the C&O Canal (staffing dependent).

September & October - Boat Replica Tours - Cumberland, Md., Fridays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The replica canal boat The Cumberland is open for touring. The full-sized replica cargo boat is located at Canal Place in downtown Cumberland, Md., near the Western Maryland Railway Station. Explore the mule stable, hay house, and captain’s cabin and learn about the life of the C&O canal boatmen (inclement weather cancels).

September 1, 15, 22 & October 20 - Paw Paw Tunnel Tours - Paw Paw, W.Va., Saturdays, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Meet a park ranger at the small open amphitheater at Paw Paw Campground for a brief formal talk followed by a guided tour through the Paw Paw Tunnel. Learn about the challenges of building the tunnel, the geology of the area, and how the current rock scaling and pinning project may help avert future rock slides. The park ranger will remain in the area between the tunnel and the amphitheater between programs.

September 2 & 16 - Bike Ride with a Ranger - Cumberland, Md., Sundays, 10 a.m. Meet a ranger at the Cumberland Visitor Center for a 10-mile round trip bike ride from the canal Terminus to Evitts Creek Aqueduct and back. Learn about the canal basins and boat yards and view the westernmost aqueduct on the canal in this 90-minute to two-hour ride.

September 7 – 9 - River and Rails Festival at Canal Place - Cumberland, Md. Family festival event at Canal Place to focus on planned Cumberland River Park. Celebrate the river, canal, and rails in the Queen City. Tours of the replica canal boat, talks, fishing for children, kayaks on the basin, music and food. For more information contact the Canal Place Authority at [phone].

September 8, October 6, & November 3 - Dulcimer Music - Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Potomac, Md., 12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.  Join us for live music by the Mountain Dulcimers of Northern Virginia and try your hand at playing this unique instrument.

September 22 - Blacksmith Demonstration - Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Potomac, Md., 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Learn about the art and science of blacksmithing during this demonstration. In the 19th century if something broke, you would probably call a blacksmith. Things were generally made to last; if it broke it was often repaired or re-purposed instead of being thrown out. Recycle and reuse was the attitude of the day.

September 29 - VIP Speaker Series - Lock 75, North Branch, Cumberland, Md., 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Join photographer Steve Dean at the westernmost lock on the C&O Canal. Pick up some pointers from a talented photographer who has photographed the canal from every angle! Steve is an expert on the canal culverts and dragonflies, but also knows cameras! Join Steve to explore this beautiful section of towpath with an eye to capturing some good photos along the way.

September 29 - Bike Your Park Day - Various Locations throughout the park, all day. Enjoy the C&O Canal by cycling the towpath! Borrow a bike for free from the Williamsport or Great Falls Visitor Centers or join a ranger guided ride. Meet a ranger at the Little Tonoloway parking lot/boat ramp at 9:30 a.m. for a 16-mile ride or 9:30 a.m. for a 19-mile bike ride from the Terminus at Cumberland to Lock 75, North Branch, and back. Enjoy this C&O Canal bike adventure as fall gets underway!

September 29 & 30 - Living History Demonstrations with the 7th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment - Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Potomac Md., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., & 3 p.m. each day. Relive the year 1862, when the country was in the middle of the Civil War and a hostile border existed along the Potomac River. The park will host a Civil War living history weekend with these re-enactors. Visitors are invited to walk through their camp and learn about the history of the canal during the war.

*The programs at Great Falls Tavern are free, but there is an entrance fee to the park of $10 per single vehicle (subject to change).

C&O Canal Fall Visitor Center Hours

Stop in one of our visitor centers to speak with a ranger or volunteer and learn about the park.

Brunswick Visitor Center [phone]

40 West Potomac St., Brunswick, MD 21716

Thurs. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sun. 1 - 4 p.m.

Cumberland Visitor Center  [phone]

Western Maryland Railway Station, 13 Canal St., Room 100, Cumberland, MD 21502

Open Daily - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center  [phone]

11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD 20854

Wed-Sun 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Williamsport Visitor Center  [phone]

205 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD 21795

Wed-Sun 9:00 am - 4:30 pm