In 1820 the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal formed with the idea of connecting the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River. Work began in 1824 under the supervision of the Erie Canal team of builders. Unstable hills and tidal marshes made construction difficult and inventive engineering was required. When it was finished in 1829, the sea route between Baltimore and Philadelphia was 300 miles shorter, and the canal was a success. It was operated by a private corporation until 1919 when it was bought by the US Army Corps of Engineers. From 1921 to 1927 the Corps converted it to a sea-level canal, widened it, and removed all the locks. Today it lies on the Inter-coastal Waterway and is one of the busiest canals in the world. The Corps of Engineers also operates the C&D Canal museum, which features exhibits on the canal's past and present. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Length: 14 miles Width: 450 ft., Depth: 35 ft.