Lock 52 with the Tonoloway Creek Aqueduct in the background, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

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Lock 52 and the Tonoloway Creek Aqueduct are located in Hancock, Maryland, at Mile 122.9 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath. They are within a short walk of the Bowles House (former Hancock Visitor Center). See the Locks and Lockhouses web page for an interactive location map.

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Lock 52 and the Tonoloway Creek Aqueduct are so close to each other that they are practically one continuous structure similar to the Seneca Creek Aqueduct and Lock 24. However, there is a very short separation between the two.

Tonoloway Creek Aqueduct at Mile 122.9 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath

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

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