The C&O Canal was built in the mid-nineteenth century as a transportation route to bring goods from the Ohio river valley to eastern markets. Construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) began on July 4, 1828, and was completed in 1850, reaching Cumberland, Maryland, 184.5 miles from Washington, D.C.

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184.5 Miles of Adventure! Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural and recreational treasures!

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History buffs believe that some fugitive slaves, escaping from their masters in Virginia, crossed the Potomac River and entered Maryland at the Towpath, which is on the Maryland shore of the Potomac. Using the Towpath trail, the slaves could access to Washington County to a point where they would exit the Towpath and head north toward Hagerstown, Pennsylvania, etc

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Now known as a destination for hiking and biking, the C&O Canal Towpath also served as a route for freedom for travelers on the Underground Railroad like James Curry, who made the last leg of his journey from North Carolina along the Towpath is an amazing place on its own, but knowing its history as a throughway on the Underground Railroad takes your journey even deeper. 

 

Freedom seekers, like James Curry, escaped slavery by following the Tow path before passing into Pennsylvania, a free state. September is International Underground Railroad Month. Maryland has a rich mosaic of Underground Railroad sites and unsung heroes throughout the state ready for you to explore. 

 

Maryland’s enslaved people were often hired out by their owners to work for other farmers and businesses, moving between homes, communities and ports. Here they could learn about freedom, get the lay of the land and find potential routes to leave the area, and possibly escape. Some were offered opportunities to earn their own
income. Waterways, roadways and trails led to the North. These unique conditions, including time apart from an overseer, had advantages for those willing to escape and face the risks and consequences of being caught.  But reaching the border couldmean freedom.

 

Come and see why Maryland is The Most Powerful Underground Railroad Storytelling Destination in the World. City of Hagerstown has eleven Underground Railroad sites.