Explore historic canals of Washington D.C. by bike/scooter

Few people know that historic canals were critical to the growth of Washington D.C. in the early 19th century. These canals include the Washington City Canal, the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal and the Alexandria Canal. This bike/scooter tour explores the historic canals, canal boats, locks, and lockkeeper houses - and the people who built and used this incredible transportation infrastructure.

Bring your own bike/scooter - safety helmets are required. If you choose to rent a bike, there is a Capital Bikeshare docking station at our meeting point (more info about Capital Bikeshare in the FAQ section below). The ride is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) on flat ground and takes about 2 hours.

Here are the highlights of our tour:

From our meeting point, it is a very short ride to the Navy Yard Terminus of the historic Washington City Canal. From there we proceed as closely as possible along the path of the historic canal. We stop at Canal Park, a three-block stretch of 2nd St. SE which has several interpretive signs and historic photographs. From Canal Park, we ride around a section of the original path of the historic canal which was overtaken by what is now the Southeast Freeway (Interstate 695) and CSX railway. Along this detour we make a surprise stop at a place that predates the historic canal. Back on our bikes/scooters, we return to the historic path of the Washington City Canal on what is now Canal St. SE and ride to the Lockkeepers House. Along the way, we see the Washington City Canal memorialized at Freedom Plaza. Then we make a brief stop to see artifacts of the historic Washington City Canal discovered when the National Museum of African American History was under construction. At the Lockkeeper's House you will learn the history of the house as well as the massive project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park. After departing the Lockkeeper's House, we ride along a route approximating the path of the C&O Canal Extension to C&O Canal Mile 0, a stone marker at the C&O Canal's southeastern terminus. Here we see the ruins of Tide Lock A that connected the C&O Canal to the Potomac River. From there the final leg of our ride takes us to C&O Canal Lock 4. There we will see a working lift lock, where a canal packet boat will be docked near the National Park Service's Visitor Center in Georgetown.

Legal Disclaimer: By participating in this tour, you agree to:

1. Provide your own bicycle or scooter in good mechanical condition and safety helmet.
2. Obey all traffic laws.
3. Hereby unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, and AGREE NOT TO SUE TommyToursDC or any of its employees.

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