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Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension facts for kids

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Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension
Lockkeeper's House.jpg
South side of Lockkeeper's House in August 2018
Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension is located in Central Washington, D.C.
Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension
Location in Central Washington, D.C.
Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension is located in the District of Columbia
Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension
Location in the District of Columbia
Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension is located in the United States
Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension
Location in the United States
Location 17th Street, and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Area less than one acre
Built 1835
NRHP reference No. 73000218
Added to NRHP November 30, 1973
Lockkeepers House Location Circa 1851
The Washington City Canal, around 1851

The Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension is the oldest building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1837. You can find it today at the corner of 17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue, NW. It is very close to Constitution Gardens.

This house was built when 17th Street NW was a busy dock area. Back then, Constitution Avenue NW was actually part of the Washington City Canal. This canal connected the Potomac River and the Anacostia River. An extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) also met these rivers here at a special gate called a canal lock.

The house is about 350 square feet, which is quite small. It was home to the canal's lock keeper. This person had important jobs. They collected money (tolls) from boats using the canal. They also kept records of all the goods being moved. Plus, they made sure the canal was in good shape and managed all the boat traffic.

History of the Lockkeeper's House

The C&O Canal was made longer between 1832 and 1833. This extension helped it connect to the Washington City Canal.

Building and Early Use

The Lockkeeper's House was finished in 1837. Its main purpose was for collecting tolls and keeping records. However, the canal didn't last very long. It was abandoned in 1855, just 30 years after the house was built. By then, trains (railroads) were becoming popular for moving heavy goods. The canal also became very dirty, almost like an open sewer.

Changes Over Time

After the canal closed, the house fell into disrepair. It became a place where people without homes lived. In 1903, it was partly fixed up. It then became a main office for the United States Park Police. They even added a small holding cell inside!

In 1915, the house was moved a bit to the west. It was also turned to face the same way as B Street NW. This street is now Constitution Avenue NW. It was built over parts of the old canals. During this move, the original brick chimneys were taken off. Shorter stone chimneys were put in their place.

Later Years and Restoration

On July 4, 1928, a special historical sign was put on the outside of the building. In 1940, the first floor of the house was used as public restrooms. Later, it became a storage area. For 40 years, the house was boarded up and empty. As the area around it got busier, roads and sidewalks got closer and closer to the house.

In October 2017, the National Park Service (NPS) decided to move the house again. A special contractor moved it about 36 feet (11 meters) to the south. They also moved it 35 feet (10.7 meters) to the west. This moved it away from the busy 17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW. The house still faced the same east-west direction.

The NPS also worked to make the house look like it did before 1915. They put back the original brick chimneys. This made the building look like it did in the 1800s. The house opened for a short time in August 2018. It then opened permanently on September 13 of that year.

Today, the Lockkeeper's House is an education center for the NPS. It's part of a bigger plan to fix up Constitution Gardens.

Pictures

1900s Photos

  • Lock Keeper's House, Seventeenth Street & Constitution Avenue 025997pv
    North side of Lockkeeper's House from across Constitution Avenue
    around 1934-1935
  • Lock Keeper's House, Seventeenth Street & Constitution Avenue 311937pv
    Lockkeeper's House, looking southeast
    around 1934-1935
  • Exterior of Lock Keeper's House 38804u
    Lockkeeper's House, looking southeast with the Washington Monument in the background
    around 1920-1950
  • Lock Keeper's House, Seventeenth Street & Constitution Avenue 025996pv
    Lockkeeper's House facing southeast from across Constitution Avenue

2000s Photos

  • Lockkeeper's House, DC
    North side of Lockkeeper's House facing the sidewalk of Constitution Avenue in 2008
  • Lock Keeper's House plaque by Matthew Bisanz
    Lockkeeper's House plaque photographed in 2009
  • LockKeeper'sHouse
    North side of Lockkeeper's House facing Constitution Avenue in 2012
  • LKDC2
    South side of Lockkeeper's House in 2013
  • Lockkeeper's House (8214d6a2-ff79-43b6-92fd-dc2238206131)
    South side of Lockkeeper's House in 2018


Images for kids

  • Lock Keeper's House, Seventeenth Street & Constitution Avenue 025997pv
    North side of Lockkeeper's House from opposite side of Constitution Avenue c. 1934-1935
  • Lock Keeper's House, Seventeenth Street & Constitution Avenue 311937pv
    Lockkeeper's House, facing southeast c. 1934-1935
  • Lock Keeper's House, Seventeenth Street & Constitution Avenue 025996pv
    Lockkeeper's House facing southeast from opposite side of Constitution Avenue
  • Lockkeeper's House, DC
    North side of Lockkeeper's House facing sidewalk of Constitution Avenue in 2008
  • Lock Keeper's House plaque by Matthew Bisanz
    Lockkeeper's House plaque photographed in 2009
  • LockKeeper'sHouse
    North side of Lockkeeper's House facing Constitution Avenue in 2012
  • LKDC2
    South side of Lockkeeper's House in 2013
  • Lockkeeper's House (8214d6a2-ff79-43b6-92fd-dc2238206131)
    South side of Lockkeeper's House in 2018