Walking Tour #2

Tour:  Free guided group walk exploring how the C&O Canal was connected to the Washington City Canal.

Start Time:  We depart from the Start Location at 12:45PM.  It is suggested that you arrive 15 minutes early as parking in the area can be very difficult.  In addition, you can read the interpretive signs at Locks 3 & 4 while waiting for our tour to start.

Start Location:  C&O Canal Lock #3 located along the C&O Canal in Georgetown.  The C&O Canal is located one block south of M St NW and Lock 3 is located between Thomas Jefferson St NW and 30th St NW.   There is limited street parking in this area; participants are encouraged to use public transportation (e.g., Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro subway station on the blue/orange/silver lines).  Restrooms and food service are available at private businesses in Georgetown.

End Location:  Lockkeeper's House at Constitution Ave NW and 17th St NW, on the south side of Constitution Ave.

Distance:  From the Start Location to the End Location, the tour is 3 miles.  Add an additional mile to reach our LocktoberfestDC Celebration.

Tour Leaders:  Barbara Berti, Lisa Mosner, 

Route Highlights:  Our scenic historical stroll begins along the C&O Canal where we will see an operational lift lock and replica packet boat typical of the 1800s. From there we walk to C&O Canal Mile 0, a stone marker at the canal's southeastern terminus.  Here we see the ruins of Tide Lock A that connected the C&O Canal to the Potomac River.  Then we walk along the footprint of the historic C&O Canal Extension until reaching its terminus at the Lockkeeper's House (where nothing remains of the historic Tide Lock B). At the Lockkeeper's House the house docent will explain the history of the house as well as the massive project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park, thus creating man-made land which covered the historic canal extension. From the Lockkeeper's House, participants are encouraged to join our LocktoberfestDC Celebration which runs 3:00PM-5:00PM.

Sign Up:  Click here to sign up.

Bring With You: Water bottle, sunscreen, and $$$ (for LocktoberfestDC Celebration). This tour is on both a natural surface (e.g., C&O Canal towpath) and sidewalks.