Canal/Lockhouse

The Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal was constructed between 1836 and 1840, running 45 miles from Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, to Havre de Grace, Maryland. The canal had 29 locks and connected central Pennsylvania to major markets like Philadelphia and Baltimore. Mule-drawn boats carried coal, lumber, grain, and other goods along its waters during its peak in the 1860s and 1870s.

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As railroads emerged—faster, cheaper, and usable year-round—canal traffic declined. By the 1890s, canal operations had ceased.

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Built in 1840, the Lock House served as both the lock tender’s home and toll office. Larger than most along the canal, it features Greek Revival architecture with a low hip roof, transomed doors, and a riverside porch. After canal service ended, it was used as a rental home until the mid-1900s. It was then restored and opened as a museum in 1982. Visitors can tour The Susquehanna Museum at Havre de Grace where they can explore the historic Lock House, the pivot bridge across the lock, and the original mule paths.