In the center of the capital, there are many historical buildings in Washington, D.C. Among them, on the way from the White House to the Lincoln Memorial, stands an old building that used to be a lockhouse for the now-filled urban waterway.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, the vital trade route since colonial times
Utilizing the Potomac River flowing to the southeast as a transportation route, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was constructed to connect the Chesapeake Bay with the inland, becoming a crucial logistical route.
However, with the development of transportation infrastructure, railways, and tunnels, the canal eventually became obsolete and was discontinued. As a result, efforts were made to beautify the National Mall, creating a functional urban center and parks for citizens. The area around the White House and the Mall’s surroundings were also developed and refurbished.
In the process, the width of the Potomac River, which used to extend to the south of the White House, was narrowed to its current form, and the Lock Keepers’ House served its purpose.
The oldest building in the National Mall, the Lock Keepers’ House
While urban development erased many traces of the founding era, the Lock Keepers’ House miraculously remained in its original form. It is quite valuable to witness a historical building that has been standing since before Washington D.C.’s urban development.
The new role of the canal
The Lock Keepers’ House used to serve as a management cabin for those in charge of operating and maintaining the canal. Even today, along the canal, there are numerous locks, and some of them have been preserved and repurposed as part of parks with reconstructed management facilities.
In the Georgetown neighborhood in the northwest of Washington D.C., the canal still has water flow, and during the summer, boat tours are organized. While gliding along the canal’s perspective, one can admire the cityscape that retains the semblance of the founding era and reflect on the passage of time.
