The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was begun on July 4, 1828, as an ambitious route from the east coast into the rapidly developing western United States. Originating in Georgetown in Washington, DC, it eventually extended 185 miles to Cumberland, Maryland, by 1850, falling short of its original goal of reaching the Ohio River. The canal briefly competed directly with the expanding railroads, and Point of Rocks became a major point of contention because the rock outcrop into the Potomac left little space for construction by both transportation routes. Building the canal was slow and demanding, requiring skilled labor to create locks, dams, aqueducts, and the towpath. It enjoyed success for only a limited number of years, though Union forces used it heavily during the Civil War. Flooding remained a constant problem, and severe damage in 1889 and again in 1924 ended its regular operations. Its use ended completely in 1936. The canal later changed ownership several times: the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad acquired it to protect its rail right-of-way from competitors, it was transferred to the federal government in 1938 after severe flooding damage and lack of investment, national monument status was conferred in 1961, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park was established in 1971.