Photo Sunday – Great Falls National Park

photo credit: Tony the Misfit

Great Falls National Park is a beautiful respite from the hustle of spending most of my time inside the D.C. beltway, and just on of a few places where most of the tourists don’t spend a lot of time.

If you’ve never seen it, or even if you have, please allow me to share with your, the beautiful images for Photo Sunday at Twilight Earth. The history of the park, is from the National Park Service.

photo credit: jmctee

Today, the Great Falls of the Potomac stands as a natural wonder bringing awe and admiration of its power and beauty. In the mid 1700’s the falls were seen as an obstruction to the navigation of the Potomac. Seeking a route to link the eastern seaboard with lands being settled in the Ohio valley, George Washington and other delegates solidified a plan to develop a system of canals on the Potomac, allowing navigation for over 200 miles. In 1785 the Potomac Canal Company was formed, funds were acquired, and construction began. Shallow areas were improved by removing large rocks and debris, along with dredging some areas. Five bypasses and canals were engineered – at Little Falls, Great Falls, Seneca Falls, Shenandoah Falls, and House Falls.

photo credit: mandj98

The largest and most difficult to engineer was the Potomac Canal of Great Falls. This canal was completed in 1802. For 26 years the canal operated lifting and lowering river boats loaded with cargo’s of corn, wheat, and rye flour, pig iron, tobacco, pork, beef, cast iron stoves and more. Considered to be the most significant engineering feat of the 18th century in America, the ruins of the Potomac Canal may still be seen here at Great Falls Park.

photo credit: sherseydc (steve)

In the early 1900’s, two entrepreneurs by the names of John McLean and Steven Elkins, acquired the lands surrounding Great Falls and built an amusement park. Tourists traveled along a trolley from Georgetown to the park to see the spectacular Great Falls. Included in the park were overlook decks, an observation tower, a dance pavilion, a night light show, a wooden carousel, and a Lovers Lane along the Potomac Canal ruins. The famous Dickey’s Inn provided lodging and exquisite dinners. The amusement park was an instant overnight success. Trolley cars were often full, selling five tickets for 25 cents. After the coming of the automobile and several floods which severely damaged the park’s structures, the amusement park was closed and eventually faded into history.

photo credit: Silent Mime

The land was eventually bought by the Potomac Edison Power Company (PEPCO) with plans to construct a hydroelectric dam. However, due to the hydrology and geology of the area, the site at Great Falls was determined to be unfit for hydroelectric development. Fairfax County Park Authority leased the land and continued operating as a park, allowing the public to visit the Great Falls and ride the carousel. In 1966, through an agreement with Fairfax County, the National Park Service acquired the lands, totaling 800 acres. In 1968 the visitor center was built.

photo credit: Joshua Davis (jdavis.info)

In the following years, 15 miles of trails were constructed, and the Potomac Canal locks were stabilized. The National Park Service now administers Great Falls Park, preserving and protecting the resources and providing for recreation and enjoyment of the park.

photo credit: Doece25
Thank you for visiting Twilight Earth, and as always, keep up the good fight and alter the eco! To see more Photo Sunday articles, please click here.

Related posts:

1. Photo Sunday – Shenandoah National Park
2. Photo Sunday – Brandywine Falls – Cuyahoga Valley National Park
3. Shenandoah National Park – Photo Sunday at Twilight Earth