Photo Credit: NPS
In honor of Judge William O. Douglas, who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court from 1939 – 1975, known equally as a passionate outdoorsman and as an advocate for conservation of treasured natural spaces, we pause to reflect on the impact of his commitment to the C&O Canal, now known as a C&O Canal National Historical Park, a treasured place for the millions of people each year who enjoy the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the park, making it one of the most heavily visited national parks in the country. Yet, many visitors do not realize that this beautiful strip of land alongside the Potomac River was almost paved over.
Over 70 years ago, on a wintry day in March, a group of 58 men, led by Justice Douglas, started out from Cumberland, Maryland to walk the full length of the C&O Canal towpath to Georgetown in Washington, D.C. The group, according to the C&O Canal’s historical records, included experts in geology, ecology, history, ornithology, and mammalogy and was supported by passionate hunters, outdoorsmen, fishermen, and canal town communities. According to the NPS historic archives, each night the group was treated to lectures on what it had seen that day, and sporting clubs in the canal communities along the way prepared meals, provided equipment, and transported gear for the group. Averaging approximately 23 miles a day, Justice Douglas set a brisk pace of four miles per hour. The group was met with a snowstorm on the second day of the eight-day hike, and ultimately, only nine men actually completed the hike, including Justice Douglas. For more details on why this hike had such an impact on the history of the C&O Canal, visit the NPS website here.
The C&O Canal Trust established its Leadership Giving Society as the William O. Douglas Society to honor Judge Douglas’ legacy as an outdoorsman who devoted much of his personal time to conservation of green spaces and who was known as a frequent hiker along the towpath, hiking 15-20 miles on a weekend. Now, cyclists and hikers, and casual visitors out for a day’s enjoyment, who have traveled from around the United States, the local community, and even tourists from around the world, all enjoy the same towpath, stopping to visit the many canal towns for accommodations, supplies and meals, while supporting the local economies and small businesses along the way.
What is even more remarkable is that these many years later, over five million visitors, including passionate fishermen, hunters, campers, bird enthusiasts, cyclists, hikers, families, canal towns, and a variety of other community stakeholders are still supporting this amazing national park through philanthropy and volunteer stewardship. Would you like to learn more about the Trust’s William O. Douglas Society? Join us in continuing the work of Justice Douglas in building stewardship and supporting this national treasure for generations to come!
