Chesapeake and Ohio Canal commemorative obelisk

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal commemorative obelisk is an 8-foot (2.4 m) marble obelisk erected in 1850 in Washington, D.C., to mark the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to Cumberland, Maryland.[1] It stands on the northwest corner of the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge over the canal in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood.[1]

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal commemorative obelisk
C&O Canal commemorative obelisk in 2022
Map
LocationWashington, D.C.
TypeObelisk
MaterialMarble
Height8 foot
Opening date1850
Restored date2005
Dedicated toCompletion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to Cumberland, Maryland

Description

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The monument is inscribed on all four sides:[1]

  • Northeast: “CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL./ Commenced at Georgetown./ July 4TH 1828./ Chief Engineer / BENJAMIN WRIGHT.”
  • Northwest: “CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL./ COMPLETED TO CUMBERLAND./ OCTR. 10TH 1850./ CHIEF ENGINEER/ CHARLES B. FISK.”
  • Southeast: CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL/ COMPANY 1850/ President/ JAMES M. COALE./ Directors / WILLIAM A. BRADLEY,/ HENRY DAINGERFIELD,/ WM. COST JOHNSON,/ JOHN PICKELL,/ GEORGE SCHLEY,/ SAMUEL P. SMITH,/ Clerk/ WALTER S. RINGOL, / Treasurer / LAWRENCE J. BRENGLE.”
  • Southwest: “MARYLAND STATE AGENTS./ SAMUEL SPRIGG,/ ALLEN B. DAVIS, WM. T. GOLDSBOROUGH, TENCH TILGHMAN, JOHN VAN LEAR.”

History

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The obelisk was restored in 2005.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Commemorative Obelisk". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
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38°54′16″N 77°03′46″W / 38.90435°N 77.06290°W / 38.90435; -77.06290