Williamsport Headquarters

Getting Here

142 W Potomac St.
Williamsport, MD 21795

Public parking lot available, no public restroom.
Towpath access via the Bollman Bridge on Salisbury Street

Park Headquarters

Completed in 2021, the C&O Canal NHP Park Headquarters is the administrative hub for all 184.5 miles of the park.

Construction of the park headquarters began in 2020 at the site of the former Miller Lumber Company and was completed in late 2021. The new headquarters will bring about 70 jobs with an annual payroll of about $5 million to Williamsport. The park held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project in August 2019.

When the project is complete, school groups, neighbors and other visitors will have better opportunities to connect with the historic canal waterway. Moving the park headquarters to a location closer to the park will improve efficiency and enhance the park experience for visitors.

Timeline of Park Administration

1938 The lands belonging to the former C&O Canal Company were placed under administrative control of National Capital Parks in Washington, DC.
1957 Edwin Dale was appointed the first Superintendent of the C&O Canal (west) from Seneca to Cumberland. An administrative headquarters was set up at 74 W. Washington S. in Hagerstown, MD. The administration of the canal from Georgetown to Seneca remained with National Capital Parks.
1961 C&O Canal (west) Headquarters moved to 479 N. Potomac St. in Hagerstown, MD.
1965 The administration of the canal from Georgetown to Seneca moved to George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean, VA.
1965 C&O Canal (west) Headquarters moved to 120 N. Potomac St. in Hagerstown, MD.
1967 Administrative offices for C&O Canal (west) and Antietam were combined, administrative offices were moved to the newly built visitor center at Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, MD.
1974 William Failor became the first Superintendent for the unified C&O Canal NHP from Georgetown to Cumberland. The Administrative duties for C&O Canal and Antietam were seperated, C&O Canal began looking for a new headquarters site.
1976 C&O Canal offices were moved to a set of trailers behind recently aquired Ferry Hill in Sharpsburg, MD.
1980 Park Headquarters officially opened in the mansion of Ferry Hill Place.
2002 Headquarters moved to 1850 Highway, Hagerstown, MD.
2021 New headquarters completed at 142 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD.