Point of Rocks

August 10, 2023 -- In 2023, I made an effort to visit different places along the C&O Canal. Point of Rocks was one of them. Point of Rocks is where the C&O Canal meets the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The thin ledge along the Potomac barely provides enough room for both. The companies fought for the right-of-way along the river. The canal eventually won the right to use the shoreline. The canal is long gone, but Point of Rocks is still a stop along the MARC trainline.

National Historical Park

Boat ramp

The Point of Rocks Bridge crosses the Potomac River. It connects Frederick County, Maryland, with Loudoun County, Virginia, via Route 15. The bridge was built in 1937. It is very photograph-worthy.

Point of Rocks Bridge

Mighty Potomac

Connecting Maryland and Virginia

The Point of Rocks railroad station is one of the best examples of railroad architecture in the eastern US. It is a colorful High Victorian Gothic building. It was built in 1875. The historic station is still in use. There are plans to renovate it. 

Point of Rocks Railway station

Noland's Ferry is located in Point of Rocks. It was a vital crossing on the Potomac. It was the site of many crossings during the Revolutionary War, used by both colonists and the British. The ferry site included a number of businesses, including a nearby slave market. It was used by North and South armies during the Civil War.

National Historical Park

Blackeyed Susans