Catoctin Aqueduct, History is in Your Hands

What is the Aqueduct?
The Catoctin Aqueduct is an historic canal structure of great importance to the transportation, structural, cultural and social fabric of Frederick County, the Village of Lander, the C&O Canal, the State of Maryland and our nation. The goal of the Catoctin Aqueduct Project is to reconstruct this historic structure (built in 1832-34 at the 51.5 mile mark of the C&O Canal) as it appeared in the 19th Century, with cut stones, wrought iron rails and three beautiful stone arches.

Why is it Important to History?
The Catoctin Aqueduct site is where the C&O Canal and B&O Railroad, two arch rivals, first competed to concurrently cross a major tributary of the Potomac River– Catoctin Creek. It’s one of 11 stone aqueducts on the 184-mile long C&O canal.

Why Restore It?
In October 1973, after over fifty years of neglect and repeated ravishment by storms and floods, the 139 year-old aqueduct collapsed into Catoctin Creek. Since 1978 an unsightly, yet functional, WWII-era steel frame Army Bailey bridge has temporarily spanned Catoctin Creek to convey hiker/biker traffic over the creek. The remains of the Catoctin Aqueduct are scattered under this "temporary" bridge–deteriorating and unnoticed, unappreciated and rarely enjoyed by most visitors to the C&O Canal National Historical Park. It’s also the only aqueduct that lies in ruin.

What Can I Do?
The Catoctin Aqueduct Project is a grassroots partnership to fund the restoration of a magnificent historic icon in the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Restoration design is now 60% complete. Funding from individuals,corporations, private and government funds is desperately needed to save this historic structure. The total cost is about $3.4 million, of which 90% has been raised. So we need to raise $340,000. You can make a tax-deductible donation, an in-kind donation, or volunteer; contact George Lewis at (301) 834-4044 or by email lewisdvm@aol.com.