Swains Lock

Swains Lock is a water control structure with a keeper's residence along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, built with stone walls and wooden gates for managing water levels. The site includes several buildings arranged along the canal in a setting surrounded by woodland and the river.

This lock was built in 1830 as part of a transportation network intended to connect Chesapeake Bay with the Ohio River. Over the 1800s it served as a crucial point for moving goods until railroads eventually replaced canal commerce.

The place is named after Jesse Swain, who served as lock keeper and whose family was deeply connected to canal life and work. Walking through the lock house today gives you a sense of how operators and their families lived in this remote location along the waterway.

The site can be reached via Swains Lock Road where parking and restroom facilities are available along with camping areas. It is best to visit during dry weather since the location is somewhat remote and conditions can vary with the seasons.

The keeper's house can be rented overnight through the Canal Quarters program, allowing visitors to experience daily life as it was around 1916. This rare opportunity makes it possible to spend a historical night at a working location from the canal era.

Location: Montgomery County

Inception: 1830

Address: 10700 Swains Lock Rd, Potomac, MD 20854-1260

GPS coordinates: 39.03139,-77.24333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:00