1836: Paw Paw Bends & 1850: Construction is Complete

This 1881 photograph illustrates the recreational aspect of canal traffic through the tunnel. The large lantern shown on the bow served an important purpose while travelling through the 3,118-foot-long tunnel.

NPS / Canal Trust Photo

The largest construction obstacle known to the Canal was that of the Paw Paw Tunnel (Canal History: Canal Era from the 1830s-1870s, n.d.). The Paw Paw bends, 5 miles of winding river and rough terrain would add more work for the canal builders.

Therefore, in 1836 the Canal Company decided to cut across the neck of the land and saving 5 miles of construction by building a 3,118-foot (.6 mile) tunnel through the mountain. Little did the Canal Company know that this project would take over 14 years of riots, strikes, discontent, labor storage's and a cost of $600,000 to complete the construction of the Paw Paw Tunnel (Paw Paw Tunnel & Paw Paw Tunnel Trail, n.d.). The Paw Paw tunnel was the most notable engineering landmark on the Canal – 5,800,000 bricks in all (Paw Paw Tunnel, n.d.).

On October 10, 1850, the C&O Canal was officially completed, and boats could pass the complete length from Cumberland to Georgetown. During construction, sections of the canal opened for navigation as they were completed: Georgetown in Washington, D.C to Seneca, MD opened in 1831; then to Harpers Ferry in 1834; to Hancock in 1839 and finally Cumberland in 1850 (Today in History - October 10: The C&O Canal, n.d.). Occasionally, a traffic jam of the boats would occur along the canal in areas that were tight where turning or passing boats was impossible, such as the Paw Paw Tunnel. To warn the other boats, for which way one was traveling, the boatman would light a red lantern on the stern and a white lantern on the bow. (Paw Paw Tunnel, n.d.).

 

Action Challenge:

Visit the Paw Paw Tunnel in person or online Paw Paw Tunnel - Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park to discover the tremendous engineering and workmanship. Check out the amazing stalactites that are icicle-shaped deposits that form along the ceiling of the Paw Paw Tunnel, where water from the mountain above seeps through.

1. How many stalactites can you find on the roof within the tunnel?
2. How many brown bats do you see?
3. Imagine the Paw Paw Tunnel during the 1850s as you stand in living history.

Share your experiences with us on social media, using #FindYourPark, #candocanal and tag us @COcanalNPS.

Also, within a 30-minute drive of the Paw Paw Tunnel, is the Cumberland Visitor Center. Please stop by to check out the canal terminus.

 

References

Canal History: Canal Era from the 1830s-1870s. (n.d.). Retrieved from Canal Trust: https://www.canaltrust.org/about-us/about-the-co-canal/history/canal-history-canal-era-from-the-1830s-1870s/
139.jpg (560×357) (canaltrust.org)
145.jpg(508×420) (canaltrust.org)

Paw Paw Tunnel. (n.d.). Retrieved from Canal Trust: https://www.canaltrust.org/pyv/paw-paw-tunnel/#:~:text=Paw%20Paw%20Tunnel%20It%20took%2012%20years%20and,of%20a%20mile%20and%205%2C800%2C000%20bricks%20in%20all.

Paw Paw Tunnel & Paw Paw Tunnel Trail. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Park Service, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park: https://www.nps.gov/experiences/paw-paw-tunnel-and-trail.htm

Today in History - October 10: The C&O Canal. (n.d.). Retrieved from Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/october-10