The Lockkeeper’s House was another building that was a first time visit. The first time visit could be attributed to us not walking our normal path along the pool and walking along the outer edges of the National Mall.

The Lockkeeper’s House came about because George Washington advocated for canals in the capital city and believed they were essential for the economy and fundamental to our nationhood. Finished in 1837, the house sat at the intersection of what used to be the C&O Canal and the Washington Canal, where the Lockkeeper collected tolls and kept trade records for merchandise that entered the city. Over the years, the Lockkeeper’s House evolved to meet the needs of the times – serving as a tool shed for park staff, a watchman’s lodge, and even a temporary holding cell for Park Police.

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