C&O Canal History

Operation Redstone: The 150-Year-Old Secret of the Seneca Schoolhouse

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Built from the same stone as the Smithsonian Castle, this tiny schoolhouse carries a story far bigger than its walls.

A Promise Written in Stone There’s a bend in the road where the forest thins just enough to reveal a little red building. It’s quiet here—peaceful, even—but something about the place hums with old energy.That’s the Seneca Schoolhouse Museum, built in 1866 from the same fiery red sandstone that gave the Smithsonian Castle its fairytale … Read more

Operation Red Stone: Riley’s Lock & the Seneca Creek Aqueduct

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The red-sandstone arches of the Seneca Aqueduct glowing in evening light, carrying the C&O Canal over Seneca Creek.

Stories stolen between meetings. The Detour That Wasn’t a Mistake I wasn’t supposed to stop here.This wasn’t on the mission list. I was chasing the ruins of Seneca Quarry—and Murph, ever the chaos gremlin, rerouted my GPS straight toward a safer parking area. I rolled in expecting nothing more than a quick walk through the … Read more