NPS Photo If there were enough family members to operate a canal boat, the captain would not need to hire any crew. Canal children played an important part of the job as they would help tend and guide the mules along the towpath. Other times, canal children would relax and ride the boat through the lock. In this photo, two canal children are seated on the boat as it's being lowered to the downstream water level, indicating the canal boat was most likely headed toward Georgetown, Washington, DC. |
Last updated: December 10, 2022