Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

U.S. 22, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Photos

Photo taken by Jim Allen in Apr. 2013

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Map

Coordinates:
+40.45684, -78.54860
40°27'25" N, 78°32'55" W

Street View

Description

This first railroad over the Allegheny Mountains operated from 1834 to 1854 and was considered a technological marvel of its time. An inclined plane, it carried canal boats over a 36-mile mountain divide between the eastern and western divisions of the Pennsylvania Canal. This canal, with its railroad, was the main Pennsylvania transportation line west for over two decades, and played a critical role in opening the interior of the country to trade and settlement. A portion of the route is included in the Allegheny Portage Railroad Site. -- National Historic Landmark statement of significance, December 29, 1962

National Register information

Status: Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966
Reference number: 66000648
Areas of significance: Commerce; Engineering; Transportation
Level of significance: National
Evaluation criteria: A - Event; C - Design/Construction
Property type: District
Historic function: Rail-related
Current function: Museum
Periods of significance: 1850-1874; 1825-1849
Significant years: 1831; 1834; 1857
Number of properties: Contributing buildings: 1
Contributing structures: 13

Update Log

March 19, 2020: New Street View added by Michael Miller
June 15, 2013: New photo from Jim Allen
June 11, 2013: Updated by Jim Allen: Added coordinates
June 11, 2013: New photos from Jim Allen

Sources

Jim Allen
National Park Service - Allegheny Portage RR
Steve Conro - sconro [at] yahoo [dot] com
Michael Miller - michael_a_miller [at] yahoo [dot] com
National Register database - Reference number 66000648 (Search for documents)
National Historic Landmark information