In 1834, the Catoctin Creek Aqueduct at Mile 51.5 opened a critical link in one of America's pioneering transportation corridors. One of eleven aqueducts, it was often called the most beautiful aqueduct on the line. After the C&O Canal ceased operations in 1924, the aqueduct entered a period of decay as floods, ice, and erosion took their toll. In 2005, the Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration Fund joined with the National Park Service, the State of Maryland, Frederick County, and local organizations to restore the historic landmark and provide a safe and memorable park experience for towpath visitors at Catoctin Creek. Aided by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the restoration team completed its work in August 2011, reassembling the aqueduct stone by stone after inspecting its foundations, recovering original stones, and using foam board patterns to place individual stones exactly where canal builders had originally set them.