The Chesapeake & Ohio National Historic Park weaves along the Potomac River for more than 184 miles. A vital waterway for Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia in the early 1800’s, the canal is a beautiful greenway for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C.
At Lock 20 on the Maryland side is the historic Great Falls Tavern. Originally built in 1828 as a simple lockhouse. In 1830 the lock tender. W.W. Fenlon, convinced the canal board of directors to expand the house into a tavern.
This tavern hosted many Washington D.C residents looking for a respite from the busy city. It survived the Civil War only to succumb to a flood in 1889 and then again in 1929.
The tavern was hurt, but continued to limp along in service and was derelict by 1940. In 1950, the park service renovated the inn and made it the official Visitors Center for Great Falls on the Maryland side.
To add to the beauty, in 2006 a replica of the mule-drawn canal boat, the Charles F. Mercer was added. A project created and supported by “The Friends of the Great Falls Tavern” allows visitors step back in time and float on the canal.
The Great Falls National Historic Park is a beautiful place to enjoy in a variety of ways. Make sure a stop by the tavern is included in your visit.
Categories: 2013 Project 365, Foot Prints, history, Maryland Area Hikes, Peru and the Inca Trail
Emily Carter Mitchell ~ Nature as Art 
Looks beautiful!
You are so kind. Thank you so much.
So so beautiful!!!
Its wonderful that you enjoy old historic places like me. Thank you!
I’ve never heard of this before. It would be cool if you could navigate with your own boat and sleep on it. Or someone else’s boat.
That would be really cool. But even being in a barge that a mule moves is kind of cool
This one I have visited. It’s a neat spot and the Billy Goat Trail just off the C&O towpath about 1/2 mile South of the Tavern is well worth hiking.
Oh you’ve missed my two posts from earlier from the Billy Goat Trail. Once in May, and the other in October with the glorious fall color. That’s why I was there yesterday. Great hike!
This one I have visited. It’s a neat spot and the Billy Goat Trail just off the C&O towpath about 1/2 mile South of the Tavern is well worth hiking.
Reblogged this on My Blog snuppy.
Thank you Paul for the share!
It looks inviting, do they let people kayak the canal?
I haven’t seen anyone on the canal before. But there are plenty of kayakers on the Potomac. There are even white waters they play with.