 thumb|right|250px|park map the chesapeake and ohio canal national historical park is a united states national historical park located in the district of columbia and the states of maryland and west virginia. the park was established as a national monument in 1961 by president dwight d. eisenhower in order to preserve the neglected remains of the chesapeake and ohio canal along the potomac river along with many of the original canal structures. the canal and towpath trail extends from georgetown, washington, d.c. to cumberland, maryland, a distance of , and was designated as the first section of u.s. bicycle route 50 on october 23, 2013. ==the chesapeake and ohio canal==  construction on the chesapeake and ohio canal (also known as "the grand old ditch" or the "c&o canal") began in 1828 but was not completed until 1850.{{cite book |author=mackintosh, barry |year=1991 |title=c&o canal: the making of a park |publisher=national park service, department of the interior |location=washington, dc 
1938_establishments_in_the_United_States Buildings_and_structures_in_Hagerstown,_Maryland Canal_museums_in_the_United_States Canals_on_the_National_Register_of_Historic_Places Cumberland,_Maryland IUCN_Category_V Journey_Through_Hallowed_Ground_National_Heritage_Area National_Historical_Parks_of_the_United_States National_Register_of_Historic_Places_in_Maryland National_Register_of_Historic_Places_in_Washington,_D.C. Parks_in_Allegany_County,_Maryland Parks_in_Frederick_County,_Maryland Parks_in_Montgomery_County,_Maryland Parks_in_Washington,_D.C. Parks_in_Washington_County,_Maryland Parks_on_the_National_Register_of_Historic_Places_in_West_Virginia Protected_areas_established_in_1938 United_States_National_Park_Service_areas_in_Washington,_D.C.