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C & D Canal Museum: A Chronicle of Maritime Innovation

Explore the history of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal at this informative museum in charming Chesapeake City, Maryland.

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The C & D Canal Museum in Chesapeake City, MD, chronicles the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal's history. Housed in a historic pump house, the museum features exhibits about the canal's construction, operation, and impact on regional commerce.

A brief summary to C & D Canal Museum

  • Monday 8 am-3:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8 am-3:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8 am-3:30 pm
  • Thursday 8 am-3:30 pm
  • Friday 8 am-3:30 pm

Local tips

  • Combine your museum visit with a walk or bike ride along the Ben Cardin C&D Canal Trail for scenic views of the canal.
  • Check the museum's opening hours in advance, as they vary seasonally.
  • Explore Chesapeake City's historic district, with its charming shops and waterfront restaurants.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From anywhere in Chesapeake City's South Chesapeake City Historic District, the museum is accessible by foot. From Bohemia Avenue, walk north over the Chesapeake City Bridge. Continue along Lock Street, and the museum will be on your left, next to the Chesapeake City boat basin. The walk is approximately 0.3 miles and should take less than 10 minutes. There is no cost for walking.

  • Driving

    From I-95, take Exit 100 for MD-272 toward North East/Chesapeake City. Follow MD-272 N for approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto MD-213 N/Augustine Herman Hwy, and continue for about 2 miles. Turn left onto Lock Street, and the museum will be on the left. Parking is available next to the museum. Parking is free. Note: There are no tolls on the immediate final approach.

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Discover more about C & D Canal Museum

The C & D Canal Museum offers a deep dive into the story of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, a vital waterway connecting the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River. Located in Chesapeake City, Maryland, the museum resides within the original stone pump house that once supplied water to the canal's locks. Inside, visitors can explore exhibits detailing the canal's 19th-century construction, the challenges faced by engineers and laborers, and the canal's impact on trade and transportation. Models of canal locks, historic equipment, and informative displays illustrate the ingenuity required to create this artificial waterway. The museum also highlights the stories of the African Americans and Irish immigrants who provided much of the labor for the canal's construction. The museum further showcases the canal's evolution from a mule-powered waterway to a modern sea-level passage accommodating large cargo ships. Today, the C&D Canal is the second-busiest commercial canal in the world, serving as a shortcut for ships traveling between the ports of Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.

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