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CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL, PAW PAW TUNNEL

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1836–1841, 1848–1850, Ellwood Morris and C. B. Fisk, engineers. Milepost 155
  • (Alexander Heilner)
  • default (Alexander Heilner)
  • default (Alexander Heilner)
  • (Alexander Heilner)
  • (Alexander Heilner)
  • (Photograph by Jack E. Boucher, HABS)
  • (Photograph by Jack E. Boucher, HABS)
  • (Photograph by Jack E. Boucher, HABS)

One of the major engineering feats of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and of its time, was the construction of the 3,118-foot-long Paw Paw Tunnel to avoid a 6-mile stretch of arduous terrain. The tunnel’s construction, begun in 1836, involved excavating from the north and south portals, as well as drilling four vertical 8-foot-diameter shafts from above for ventilation and removal of spoils. Work ceased in 1841 and did not resume until November 1848, with new contractors. Paw Paw Tunnel has a 24-foot-wide opening with portals framed by limestone entablatures and is composed of a brick-lined barrel arch with a 12-foot radius. A 4-foot-wide brick tow-path runs along one side of the canal bed. This impressive passageway is still used by bicyclists and hikers on the towpath.

References

Historic American Buildings Survey. “Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Paw-Paw Tunnel.” HABS No. MD-810, Historic American Buildings Survey, 1960. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Writing Credits

Author: 
Lisa Pfueller Davidson and Catherine C. Lavoie
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Data

Timeline

  • 1836

    Built

What's Nearby

Lock 58
MICHAEL CRESAP HOUSE
OLDTOWN TOLL BRIDGE
Old Inn
Replica Display Models

Citation

Lisa Pfueller Davidson and Catherine C. Lavoie, "CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL, PAW PAW TUNNEL", [Oldtown, Maryland], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MD-01-WM48.

Print Source

Buildings of Maryland, Lisa Pfueller Davidson and Catherine C. Lavoie. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2022, 367-367.

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