1784 -Gen. Washington sets out to find the “nearest communication” between Eastern and Western Rivers.
1828 - Construction begins on the C&O Canal, originally planned to go the Ohio River and on to Lake Erie.
1850 - C&O Canal construction stops at Cumberland, MD 184.5 miles from Washington, DC.
1879 - Montour Railroad opens Corapolis to Imperial.
1883 - Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE) opens railroad between Connellsville and McKeesport.
1890 - Pennsylvania Railroad Peters Creek Branch begins in sections
1912 - Western Maryland Railway opens 86 mile Connelsville Extension from Cumberland to Connnelsville.
1914 - Montour Railroad extended from North Star Junction to Snowden
1924 - C&O Canal closed.
1938 - C&O corridor acquired by the Federal Government for $2 million. Plans for super highway project
1950 - Justice William O. Douglas opposes plans to use C&O Canal corridor for Maryland super highway project
1971 - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Historic Park designated
1975 - Chessie System, owner of the Western Maryland Station invites government to ride soon to be abandoned corridor.
1989 - Western Maryland Scenic Railroad opens using the same corridor as a tourist attraction.