2026 Event Photos

Tour Leader Lisa Mosner kicks off the tour at the Lockkeeper's House, built in 1837 by the C&O Canal Company when it extended the C&O Canal to meet the Washington City Canal which was completed 22 years earlier.

The group learns about the life of the Lockkeeper's family, 

Volunteer Paul Gleason talks about the German-American Friendship Garden along the path of the Washington City Canal.

The tour stops at the stones that were once part of the walls of the Washington City Canal; recovered during construction of the National Museum of African American Museum History and Culture.

The group stops at the Summer House on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol to learn about freshwater springs that once fed the Tiber Creek, which was engineered to become the Washington City Canal.

A view inside the Summer House at the U.S. Capitol.

The group hears stories about the people who lived near the Washington City Canal in the early 19th century.

The tour makes its way from the U.S. Capitol towards Freedom Plaza, where the Washington City Canal (the"Canal Along Tiber Creek") is immortalized in the stone pavers.

Tour Leader Barbara Berti explains how the miter lock (left) enabled boats to overcome changes in elevation along the C&O Canal.

Admiring a replica packet boat, drydocked at C&O Canal Lock 4.

The group hears the story of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, who played a pivotal role in saving the C&O Canal as a national park.

Viewing the High Street Bridge, built in 1831 over the newly constructed C&O Canal and the oldest surviving stone arch bridge in Washington D.C.

A group photo at the Zero Mile Marker where the C&O Canal terminates  at the Potomac River in Georgetown.

Admiring the ruins of Tide Lock A, where packet boats would exit the C&O Canal into the Potomac River or the C&O Canal Extension.

The group walks directly in the path of the C&O Extension, built to connect the C&O Canal to the Washington City Canal.

Standing on reclaimed land that was once part of the Potomac River, the group visits the interpretive sign for the C&O Canal Extension.

Tour Leader Hava Kantrowitz begins the tour near the Virginia side of the Alexandria Aqueduct.  A walk through the woods under Key Bridge leads to a big surprise (next photo).

The last remaining of the 8 original piers, constructed 1833-1841, of the Alexandria Aqueduct near the Virginia shoreline at today's Key Bridge.

The group is standing on the exact spot where packet boats once turned from the C&O Canal onto the Alexandria Aqueduct, and vice versa.

With a replica packet boat in the background, the group learns about life traveling up and down the C&O Canal.

The tour starts out at the Lockkeeper's House where the house docent describes the history of the house.

At Lock 3, the group learns the C&O Canal played a major role in the industrialization of Georgetown in the 19th century, with the Foundry building in the background (right).

Standing on the site of the Alexandria Aqueduct, which opened in 1843.  Just below Chris' extended hand, the only remaining pier can be seen in the Potomac River in the distance.

The group learns about the Incline Plane, an canal innovation that enabled packet boats to get around the long line of boats waiting to get through Locks 1-4 to reach the Potomac River.

Chris explains the C&O Canal was constructed on the property of the Abner Cloud house, providing transportation services for the grist mill on the property.

From the starting point of the tour, it's a short bike ride to see the historic south end of the Washington City Canal where it met the Eastern Branch (today's Anacostia River).

The group learns about the "surprise stop" mentioned in the tour description.

The route of the Washington City Canal down the center of today's National Mall,  since covered and part of today's Washington D.C. sewer system, is explored.

Learning about the stones of the Washington City Canal walls uncovered during the excavation of the National Museuem of African American History and Culture.

Tour Leader Nathan Mathai poses at the Lockkeeper's House with tour participants.  The Washington Monument, whose construction began 11 years after the Lockkeeper's House was completed, rises in the background.

Tour Leader Tom Haser stops at Four Mile Run to explain the route of the Alexandria Canal.

The group learns about the first bridge built over the C&O Canal - the High Street Bridge (in the far background), the oldest stone arch bridge in Washington D.C.  Today is it Wisconsin Avenue.