|
NEW SEARCH | HELP | ABOUT COLLECTION |
|
Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey
 2 drawings |  5 b&w photos |  45 data pages |  2 photo caption pages |
How to obtain copies of this item
TITLE:
Potowmack Company: Great Falls Canal & Locks, Great Falls, Fairfax County, VA
CALL NUMBER:
HAER VA,30-GREFA,1-
REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
[See Call Number]
MEDIUM:
Measured Drawing(s): 2 (24 x 36 in.)
Photo(s): 5 (5 x 7 in.)
Data Page(s): 44 plus cover page
Photo Caption Page(s): 2
DATE:
Documentation compiled after 1968.
CREATOR:
Historic American Engineering Record, creator
RELATED NAME(S):
Washington, George
Rumsey, James
Harbaugh, Leonard
NOTE:
Survey number HAER VA-13
Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-12).
Building/structure dates: 174 initial construction
Significance: The Great Falls Canal was a pioneer effort in the comprehensive development of a river navigation system. Constructed in the years (1786-1802) following the American Revolution, George Washington promoted the canal as a trade route that was key to establishing economic ties that would link the Atlantic states with territories west of the Allegheny Mountains. Great Falls was the most formidable engineering challenge of the five major canal construction projects to make the Potomac navigable. To overcome a 76 foot drop in river level at Great Falls, five locks were constructed, two of which were blasted from rock. Built at a time when few professional engineers were in America, the Great Falls Canal was one of the first locked canals and one of the first construction projects to use black powder.
SUBJECTS:
VIRGINIA--Fairfax County--Great Falls
canals
OTHER TITLE:
Potomac Canal
Potowmack Canal
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
COLLECTION:
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)
REPOSITORY:
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
DIGID:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.va0424
CONTENTS:
Photograph caption(s):
1. Great Falls of the Potomac, the area by-passed by the canal. Jack Boucher, photographer, 1971.
2. View of Potomac River at Great Falls looking upstream from Observation Tower. The majestic character of this wild and untrammeled spot is vividly shown. Scanty flow is evidenced by light colored normal water line markings on rock formation. Washington Agueduct Dam is shown in upper portion. Maryland on right and Virginia on left. Natives quoted as saying the water was as low or lower than during the drought conditions of 1930. Mr. Horyduzak, Photographer, 1943.
3. View of Potomac River looking downstream from the Great Falls of the Potomac. Reduction of stream in width during low water, is clearly shown by exposed beach on left side and indisputable normal water height markings shown on right side of photograph. Mr. Horyduzak, photographer, 1943.
4. View of Great Falls of the Potomac River looking upriver from a lower point further downstream than view #2. Observation Tower visible on left. During flood conditions of 1936 and 1942, lower portion of this tower was under water. Low water conditions are clearly evidenced here by normal water markings on rock formations noted on right. In rear of front rock promontory, a sand beach is shown. Mr. Horyduzak, photographer, 1943.
5. Looking west upstream, towards the location of the erstwhile intake flume into canal from the upper reaches of the Potomac River above the Great Falls, on the old Potowmack Canal built by George Washington. The plan contemplated canal navigation around the Great Falls of the Potomac River, located on the Virginia side of the Potomac, about 15 miles above Washington, D.C. The Company was organized in 1785, and by 1802, this and three or four smaller canals were substantially completed and raft-like boats began operation with materials from the west to the city of Georgetown. 'Although the canals and locks of the Potomac Canal were considered a great engineering accomplishment, the improvements to the river channel were inadequate. Disappointment ...
CONTROL #:
VA0424
|
NEW SEARCH | HELP | ABOUT COLLECTION |
|