If you’ve spent time near the C&O Canal over the past few years, you may have noticed that things are looking a bit parched. The stretches of waterless canal are the result of an extensive $12.7 million NPS rehabilitation project, which aims to stabilize and preserve historic canal walls throughout Washington, DC, and Montgomery County, Maryland.
One of the most noticeable shifts during the construction process has been the decommissioning of Georgetown’s 80-foot-long canal boat, which has been inactive since the end of the 2023 season. Now, the famous vessel is making a triumphant return to the area, with plans to resume service in the spring of 2026!
Canal boat tours prepare for a comeback
Readying the boat for service involves several key tasks. Georgetown Heritage, the organization behind the boat tours, has shared that they have a number of to-dos to get the boat ready for use. Beyond boat maintenance, they will need to hire and train new team members, refresh their tour material, and improve accessibility for visitors of all physical abilities.
Each of these steps is essential, but they also come with associated costs. To ensure that tours can get back up and running as soon as possible, Georgetown Heritage asks that the public consider making a contribution to the boat tours.
If you’re interested in learning more about the completion of the canal’s restoration process, you can visit the NPS website here.