C&O Canal Tonolaway Creek Aqueduct

Photo of park sign with some history. Titled "A Work Of Art" it reads as follows. "Looking at the remaining iron railings and graceful arch of the Tonoloway Aqueduct, it is easy to see why canal company officials referred to the 11 aqueducts along the canal as "works of art". Built betwen 1835 and 1839, Aqueduct 7 carried the canal across Tonoloway Creek. Time and floods have not been kind to the Tonoloway Aqueduct. Years of carrying water and canal boats took a toll on the sides of the aqueduct, eventually causing it to collapse. Debris carried by flood waters damaged and washed away iron railings. To protect the aqueduct, the National Park Service built steel braces to support the arch and remaining walls."

Another blurb states that "Even in 1863 the Tonoloway Aqueduct suffered from maintenance problems. Leaking water washed away mortar and weakend the masonry."

There is an additional segment relating how an aqueduct actually functions with a diagram.

Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.

photo 1- Looking North-added steel to restrain the aqueduct from falling apart is very evident

photo 2- Looking East through the waterway/trail

photo 3- Looking South through. upper wall missing, steel holding it together, steel under arches have also been added in effort to keep this aqueduct together

photo 4-broader angle of prior shot

photo 5- Looking north through the waterway/trail

photo 6- looking south to lock that immediately preceeded this aqueduct when traveling East along it.

Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.