Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park rangers in Maryland are investigating painted graffiti found in the Paw Paw Tunnel. A $250 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved.
Law enforcement park rangers believe the graffiti was painted on or about March 21. Whenever graffiti is found, the National Park Service works to remove it as expeditiously as possible while ensuring the removal process won’t damage historic structures or materials.
Anyone with information regarding this crime should contact the National Park Service Investigative Service Branch. People can submit a tip by calling. Call the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009; online at www.nps.gov/isb; by email e-mail us; via Facebook message @InvestigativeServicesNPS or on Twitter @SpecialAgentNPS. The identity of a person providing a tip is confidential and protected, by law, from public disclosure.
The Paw Paw Tunnel is one of the most significant engineering features along the C&O Canal. The 3,119-foot tunnel through loose shale rock took 14 years to build, and was built to bypass constructing six miles of canal along the Paw Paw Bends of the Potomac River. The tunnel opened in October 1850.
Comments
Vandalism at any National Park unit really upsets me, but this C&O Canal Towpath is dear to my heart. It has been a part of my life since the early 1970s--almost 50 years! Bicylcing, or walking, through the Paw Paw Tunnel is quite an experience--at times there is no light at the end of the tunnel, due to the curvature of it. I'm hoping the person or persons who did this are caught and punished appropriately. I think about 30 days of trail maintenance might do it.
What Harry said! In addition to the trail maintenance, the vandals need to pay for the cost of the graffiti removal and any restoration expenses incurred in the removal. I will never understand vandalism.