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Even before the Declaration of Independence, a young George Washington was developing plans to improve opportunities for commerce between the Atlantic Seaboard and "the Western Country" by way of the Potomac River. The idea echoed the practices of native populations--the word "Potomac" is often said to derive from an Algonkian phrase meaning "place where things are brought," or "trading place."
Today, the designation of a Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail corridor, enacted and signed in 1983 as an amendment to the National Trails System Act, is being used by communities in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania to develop and make connections among trails, historic sites and a range of recreational and educational opportunities. Three trails are currently recognized as "official" segments of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail: the 184.5-mile C & O Canal Towpath, managed by Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park; the 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail, managed by George Washington Memorial Parkway; and the 75-mile Laurel Highlands Trail, managed by Laurel Ridge State Park, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
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