C&O Canal National Historical Park

History: Troop movements and skirmishes occurred along the canal, for which President John Quincy Adams dug the first ceremonial shovelful of dirt on July 4, 1828. The canal would connect the nation's capital with the headwaters of the Ohio River. Today, the park includes Ferry Hill Place, the boyhood home of Henry Kyd Douglas, youngest officer to serve under Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson. New exhibits there depict the history of the house, its residents, the ferry crossing, canal and Civil War.

More to Explore: The 184.5-mile canal and its towpath are ideal for hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. The popular C & O Canal Scenic Byway follows the canal and connects historic towns. The canal runs close to such sites as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, which offers several museums housed in historic buildings; Antietam National Battlefield, the site of the bloodiest single-day battle during the Civil War; and the historic town of Brunswick, home to the Brunswick Railroad Museum. Several camping opportunities, including unique situations involving historic lockhouses, are available along the canal.