After attending a "makan" (Malay for eating) session organized by the Singapore International Foundation in D.C. last month, I attended another function, this time a picnic at The Great Falls to meet up with fellow Singaporeans.
Together with ShuZhen, who was mistaken as my "wife" previously and her friend, Kian Meng, we met at the visitor center. As I am collecting fridge magnets of various states which I had visited, I was disappointed that there was none.
Before going for a hike along the Potomac River, I watched an 8-minute presentation on the history of The Great Falls. I learnt that "Potomac" in the Algonquian/Powhatan word means "where the goods are brought in" where American Indians and early colonists traded. George Washington dreamt of turning the river navigable in the hope of stimulating trade between the East and the Ohio Valley, and building cohesion between states in a framework of mutual interest and trade.
Construction of a series of five canals began in 1785 by the Patowmack Company and took 17 years to complete. During the span of 26 years of operation, flour, corn, whiskey, furs, tobacco, iron ore and timber were transported on flatboats from as far as Cumberland, Maryland. The canal system declined due to newer modes of transportation that could haul larger loads much faster than the canal boats which took three days from Cumberland.
Today, the remnants of the Patowmack Canal can still be seen along the forest trail. People still gather at this river, not to trade but to drink in the spectacular view of Potomac River falling over a series of jagged rocks and journeying through a narrow gorge; avid rock climbers scaling the vertical walls, family and friends having a picnic or whitewater rafting for the brave hearts.
More Great Falls pictures.
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