Georgetown has quite a lot to offer for anyone that is a history buff at heart as the town was founded in 1751 and there are plenty of preserved attractions all around. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal or C&O Canal for short, is probably one of Georgetown’s most profound and chronological features as the body of water cuts through the small town and stretches at a total of 184.5 miles.
The original purpose of the canal was to allow a waterway for the importation of goods from the Caribbean and Europe back during the founding period of America. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, Georgetown suffered a catastrophic flood in 1890 and this caused a lot of trade to seize. Consequently, the locals had to rely more on inland methods of transporting goods with a big focus on utilizing the railroad systems.
Today, traveling along the C&O Canal is like passing through history as one may discover old Native American settlements, forts, battlefields, canal towns, and more.
During the colder months, the water to the canal ceased here in Georgetown but we have recently been graced with the return of the water as the weather has gradually warmed up.
There are biking and walkways along the canal which can provide a great way to get outdoors and exercise while taking in the sights. If you need more excitement, there are boat trips and even overnight stays in historic lockhouses along the canal allowing guests the opportunity to truly immerse themselves in a part of American history.
With summer just around the corner, I can’t think of a better reason to grab your hiking boots and plan a trip to Georgetown so that you can start trekking along the C&O Canal and partake in this amazing part of history.
See you in Georgetown!
