Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Monument

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Monument is a marble obelisk in Georgetown commemorating a historic waterway. This structure stands along the Potomac River corridor and marks a junction where the urban environment meets the natural riverside landscape.

The monument was erected in 1850 to mark the completion of a shipping route that transported goods across hundreds of miles. This waterway represented a major engineering achievement that connected multiple states through a single commercial network.

The monument marks a waterway that served as a vital commercial link between communities and shaped how people traveled and worked. It represents the importance of river-based infrastructure in connecting distant regions during the 19th century.

The monument is located along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park with hiking and biking trails running alongside. Spring through fall offers the most pleasant conditions for visiting and exploring the natural areas around the site.

The location sits at a boundary where a 19th-century neighborhood transitions directly into a natural river landscape. This edge between urban and natural spaces remains visible today when exploring the area on foot.

Location: District of Columbia

Inception: 1850

Made from material: marble

GPS coordinates: 38.90436,-77.06293

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:05