Three arches of the Conococheague Creek Aqueduct, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
The Conococheague Creek Aqueduct is located a short walk from the Williamsport Visitor Center at Mile 99.7 on the C&O Canal towpath. See the Locks and Lockhouses web page for an interactive location map.
A canal aqueduct is a nifty little feat of engineering that solves the problem of what to do when a canal crosses paths with a creek or river. Both are waterways, but the canal is a self-contained channel and cannot temporarily merge with the river because all of its water will spill out uncontrollably. The solution is to elevate the canal over the waterway via a bridge. In essence, a large, elevated bathtub must be built—water cannot be leaking out of the bottom and sides. This is done with a thick layer of clay and stone on the bottom and solid stone walls for sides.
Illustration of an aqueduct–the Catoctin Aqueduct–in use
Construction on the Conococheague Creek Aqueduct took place between 1833 and 1835. It is a three-arch aqueduct, and one of the longer of eleven aqueducts on the canal at 210 feet. The three arches support the weight of the canal bed.
One side of the retaining wall collapsed in 1920 when a canal boat busted through and fell into Conococheague Creek. Realizing that the canal was soon going to be out of business, the B&O Railroad, which owned the canal at the time, built a wooden wall to keep the water flowing down the aqueduct instead of making a permanent repair with stone. Another major flood did severe damage to the canal in 1924, and it was decided to cease operations. The wooden retaining wall eventually rotted away.
The Conocochegue Creek Aqueduct remained without the retaining wall until a restoration by the National Park Service was completed in July 2019 (it started in August 2017). It is now the only aqueduct within Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park that is in operating condition. Visitors can actually travel across it in a canal launch boat by taking a ride that departs from the Williamsport Visitor Center during the summer.
Missing retaining wall on the Conococheague Creek Aqueduct, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Restored Conococheague Creek Aqueduct (photo by National Park Service / Tim Ware)
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Last updated on June 3, 2024
