The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, paralleling the Potomac, was completed in 1850 from Georgetown in the District of Columbia to Cumberland, Md.; traffic ceased in the early 1920s, but the canal's route remains a scenic and recreational area.
A period of decline followed with commercial traffic ceasing in 1931 but horse-towed maintenance boats continued until 1958.
As traffic ceased, the lock structures deteriorated, and by 2006, City Mills Lock and Carpenters Road Lock were officially disused.
Due to declining business, goods traffic ceased in 1972, but passenger services continued until they ceased in 1987 from lack of use.
Despite commercial traffic ceasing in 1907, the infrastructure was maintained in good order, and the canal was used for the transport of potable water from 1962.
The compartments continued until the late 1960s to carry around half a million tons of coal, long after most British canals had ceased to be used for commercial traffic, but the gradual demise of the coal industry led to compartment traffic ceasing in 1986.
Eco-paints in restful green and grey have been used throughout and, as the light through Velux windows in the roof fades, and traffic below ceases, there's a sense of being completely tucked away in my own eyrie, while supper cooks.
