Monocacy Aqueduct
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The Monocacy Aqueduct is the largest aqueduct on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, crossing the Monocacy River just before it empties into the Potomac River in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The 438 foot (133.5 metres) aqueduct, often referred to as C&O Canal Aqueduct No. 2, was built by three separate contractors between 1829 and 1833 at the cost of US$127,900.
The first contract was awarded to Hovey and Legg in August 1828, which began work in 1829. The contract was next awarded to Asher Osbourn, but by the end of 1830, it was in the hands of Byrne and Lebaron.
During the American Civil War, the Confederate army twice attempted to destroy the aqueduct during the 1862 Antietam campaign. However, the soldiers were unable to drill enough holes into the hard stone to place enough explosives to breach the aqueduct.
The aqueduct is part of the C&O Canal National Historic Park and is administered by the National Park Service.
Following the damage to several canal structures caused by Hurricane Agnes and other flooding incidents in the early 1970s, the park service constructed a wood and steel support structure to help stabilize the Monocacy Aqueduct. This structure is credited with helping the aqueduct survive floods in 1985 and 1996, but it was considered an eyesore and, beginning in 1995, fundraising began to help restore this section of the canal to its 1833 appearance. The restored aqueduct was rededicated on May 21, 2005.
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