Water Pumps Working Along the C and O Canal NHP Towpath

Date: April 27, 2015
Contact: Catherine Bragaw, 301 491 6265

HAGERSTOWN, MD –In preparation for the summer season, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park has turned on all water pumps and drinking fountains along the towpath.

"These water pumps and drinking fountains are a resource for our visitors whether they are biking, hiking, camping, or enjoying the C&O Canal with their family," C&O Canal NHP Park Ranger Catherine Bragaw said.

C&O Canal NHP stretches 184.5 mile from Georgetown to Cumberland, MD. The C&O Canal was constructed over 22 years and operated from 1850-1924 as a water route for hauling coal, lumber, and other goods. The C&O Canal became a National Monument in 1961, thanks in part to the efforts of concerned citizens who sought to preserve the canal environment, and in 1971 the C&O Canal became a National Historical Park. Today, the entire 184.5 mile long towpath is open to visitors.For more information visitwww.nps.gov/choh.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 407 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.