C & D Canal Museum

In October 1996, the district added a full-sized replica of the 30-foot Bethel Bridge Lighthouse to the museum’s collection. The reconstruction was sponsored by the Chesapeake City, Maryland Lions Club. The original lighthouse was one of many wooden structures used to warn vessels of locks and bridges prior to the 1927 canal modifications, which transformed the waterway into a sea-level canal. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also operates the Canal Museum at Chesapeake City, offering visitors a glimpse into the early history of the canal. The museum is housed in the original pump house, where the waterwheel and steam-powered pumping engines—the oldest of their kind in America still on their original foundations—remain on display. Additional artifacts and exhibits illustrate the canal’s development and significance. In March 1996, the museum underwent a $400,000 renovation, improving both the exterior and interior, and adding access ramps and a restroom for visitors with physical challenges. New features include interactive videos and a television monitor that provides real-time ship tracking as vessels travel through the canal. 

Bethel Rd Chesapeake City, MD (410) 778-9700