Canal Icons
The Cushwa Warehouse and Turning Basin are a paired set of icons along the C&O Canal Towpath in Williamsport. The bright red warehouse, built between 1790 and 1810, was used by businessman Victor Cushwa around the time the canal opened for business, and he used it to store loads of coal, brick, iron, cement, and plaster. The turning basin is a wide pool on the canal which provided moorage and harbor for canal boats loading or unloading products at the warehouse, and was one of the few places on the canal where cargo boats could completely turn around.
Today, the warehouse is home to a visitor center for the C&O Canal National Historical Park, and the turning basin is part of a restored, watered section of the canal that includes the Conococheague Aqueduct. Hour-long excursions on 10-person passenger vessels are available during the summer.
Visitor Information
The grounds are open dawn to dusk, year round. The Williamsport Visitor Center inside the warehouse is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, March through November. Boat rides are available during the summer months, and best by reservation.