Late last week, the cutting of a red ribbon celebrated the completion of a project to stabilize a 194-year-old wall supporting the C&O Canal towpath along the Potomac River.
The original wall was built between 1828 and 1831, well before modern equipment was available.
The area in the canal behind the towpath had developed sinkholes, And the stone wall was crumbling in the Montgomery County section of the towpath. The towpath runs from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. out to Cumberland County.
“You got stones missing, stones cracked, stones doing what you don’t want them to do,” said Joe Reed, chief of professional services at the C&O national park.
The 184-mile path was used by mules to haul logs.
The repair work “is essential for the future of the Park,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who joined Friday’s celebration.
“This work protects a piece of our past, supports jobs, and boosts local tourism. Parks like the C&O aren’t just beautiful—they power our economy and connect us to our shared history.” said U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-6).
Several speakers stressed the stabilized historic wall not only makes it safer for hikers and bikers. It also enables future generations to experience the beauty of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park.
The National Park Service sponsored the ribbon cutting for the project dubbed Log Wall. The project cost slightly more than $11 million and was funded mostly by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund.
I was honored to celebrate the restoration of the historic Log Wall at the @COcanalNPS –an incredible project made possible by the Great American Outdoors Act.
This work protects a piece of our past, supports jobs, and boosts local tourism. Parks like the C&O aren’t just… pic.twitter.com/bs6hwx9qvf
— Rep. April McClain Delaney (@RepAprilDelaney) July 11, 2025
