The C&O Canal: From Great National Project to National Historical Park [Hardcover]

Dorothy Camagna (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

Already obsolete by the time construction finished in 1850, the C&O Canal nevertheless remained in operation for seventy-four years, until 1924. By then, several devastating floods had sent the canal into receivership, and the canaller's way of life vanished due to competition from other forms of transportation and shipping, lack of funds, and natural disasters.

Yet in 1828, when the young nation depended on its waterways, the C&O Canal served to link the port of Georgetown with Pittsburgh, thereby connecting the Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River. The canal's inauguration realized the dream of speculators such as George Washington and others to connect the coastal plain, via the Potomac River, with the western frontier.

Nowadays history and nature are jointly preserved along the canal's length. In "The C&O Canal," Dorothy Camagna's superb photography and narrative present a compelling account of the canal's mission, structures, and unique way of life. From tidewater Georgetown to Cumberland, the canal's ultimate terminus in the Allegheny Plateau, "The C&O Canal" brilliantly illustrates the allure of both the former waterway and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Dorothy Camagna’s book evokes the beauty of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and invites discovery of its scenic settings and intriguing history! - Carl Linden, former President, C&O Canal Association

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is a genuine American treasure. Dorothy Camagna's work, "The C&O Canal," captures and celebrates the history, nature, community, and tranquility that make the canal so distinctive. Her photography is exceptional – vibrant, fresh, and evocative – and will surely inspire others, as it has me, to seek out the canal's varied and hidden wonders. - Matthew Logan, President, Potomac Conservancy

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The blush of daybreak so perfectly accentuates the grand Monocacy Aqueduct’s imposing masonry. Boasting seven arches that span the mouth of the Monocacy, this structure is frequently acclaimed as the finest on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Mirrored on tranquil river, the aqueduct at once reflects a time when the canal served as a vital course for a young nation – when the "Great National Project" strove to connect two significant waterways, the Chesapeake Bay and Ohio River, and when canals were a part of American life.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 132 pages
• Publisher: Belshore Publications (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977044904
• ISBN-13: 978-0977044900
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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