Published: October 10, 2009 10:26 pm      

C&O Canal lockhouses open for public view

CUMBERLAND — The C&O Canal Trust, in partnership with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, has scheduled open houses at three lockhouses that will be available to the public for the first time ever for overnight stays as part of the new Canal Quarters Interpretive Program.

• Lockhouse 49, Four Locks near Clear Spring, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Lockhouse 22, Pennyfield Lock, Potomac, Nov. 1, noon to 4 p.m.

• Lockhouse 6, Brookmont, Nov. 8, noon to 4 p.m.

The open houses are free and seasonal refreshments will be provided. Visitors will be able to see the inside of the restored lockhouses, learn local lore from park rangers and find out more about this unique interpretive program.

The Canal Quarters lockhouses have been rehabilitated and furnished to evoke different eras in the canal’s history. The furnishings in Lockhouse 49 reflect the period of the early 20th century, toward the end of the canal’s operation. Lockhouse 22 will show what life was like during the establishment and construction of the canal in the 1830s. Lockhouse 6 is furnished as it may have been in the 1950s to tell the story of the campaign to preserve the canal led by Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Immediately following the open houses, the public will be able to make online reservations at www.canaltrust.org to schedule their own stay.

According to C&O Canal Trust President Matthew Logan, “Nothing quite like this has ever been offered to the public in a national park. We are excited to provide a new way for people of all ages to experience this world-class resource.”

Kevin Brandt, superintendent of the C&O Canal NHP, said, “Our lockhouses are over 170 years old and we know that the best way to save these invaluable buildings is to use them in an appropriate manner. This program allows us to accomplish two key goals: protecting our historic structures while offering an extraordinary interpretive experience.”

There are 26 lockhouses, the residences of the men and their families who operated the lock gates along the C&O Canal. All are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The C&O Canal has more than 1,300 historic structures, more than any other park in the country.

Founded in 2007, the C&O Canal Trust is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, restore and promote the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

For more information, log on to www.nps.gov/choh.