Last updated: April 5, 2024
Place
C&O Canal Lock 61
Paul Graunke
Quick Facts
Amenities
1 listed
Scenic View/Photo Spot
Along the 184.5 miles of the canal are 74 lift locks. These locks were put into place to help boats overcome the 605-foot elevation change between Georgetown and Cumberland. The C&O Canal is like a staircase, canal boats traveled along the flat sections and used the locks to take a “step up or down” about eight feet. The locks typically had hand-operated miter gates that were simple and followed Leonardo da Vinci’s original 1485 design. Entering the lock was the most demanding part of canalling.
Lock 61 is the 4th of the 13 upper locks that was constructed as a “composite lock”, or a lock made with more than one material. It is made of kyanized (treated) wood and uncut stone. The composite stone was quarried from nearby Twigg Hollow and was brought here by horse-drawn rail cars. The poor-quality materials used to make this lock concerned the Canal Company, but lack of funds initially yielded no alternatives. More stone was eventually brought in from Town Hill nine miles away and much of the wood lining was replaced by concrete.
On the other side of the lock is a bypass flume that allowed water to bypass the lock to water the level below. Remains of the lockhouse’s stone foundation can be found across from the lock, near the towpath.
Lock 61 is the 4th of the 13 upper locks that was constructed as a “composite lock”, or a lock made with more than one material. It is made of kyanized (treated) wood and uncut stone. The composite stone was quarried from nearby Twigg Hollow and was brought here by horse-drawn rail cars. The poor-quality materials used to make this lock concerned the Canal Company, but lack of funds initially yielded no alternatives. More stone was eventually brought in from Town Hill nine miles away and much of the wood lining was replaced by concrete.
On the other side of the lock is a bypass flume that allowed water to bypass the lock to water the level below. Remains of the lockhouse’s stone foundation can be found across from the lock, near the towpath.