Williamsport, MD cuts the ribbon on their new fully functional C&O Canal Aqueduct and breaks ground for their new C&O Canal National Parks Service Headquarters building
Governor Larry Hogan was in Williamsport, MD to officially open the only fully functioning C&O Canal aqueduct. For the first time since 1942 boats can travel over the Conococheague Creek via a fully restored and watered aqueduct. Several hundred citizens turned out to show support for the new aqueduct as well as a groundbreaking ceremony for the new National Parks Service Headquarters. Local and State officials cut the ribbon which stretched across the Conococheague Creek while riding in Canal Boats. The National Parks Service estimates hosting over 1 million visitors to the C&O Canal annually. “Williamsport will be the only place in North America where visitors can experience every aspect of a working canal,” Hogan said. This investment of $10.2 million into Williamsport’s Cushwa Basin signals the start of an over $14 million project to build the new National Parks Service Headquarters and visitor’s center facility. With the addition of the parks headquarters facility and a C&O Canal visitor’s center, Williamsport can expect booming tourism in the near future as the site will offer an all-in-one attraction.