Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

Effective December 12, 2020 The National Park Service is working with federal, state, and local public health officials to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on guidance from state and local public health authorities, and in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Summit Level Visitor Center will be temporarily closed beginning Saturday, December 12, 2020, until further notice.... Weather permitting, all trails and grounds will remain open daily from sunrise to sunset. Status and conditions are updated at: https://www.nps.gov/alpo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm (dkb)

There are many overlapping connections between Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. One of these overlapping connections is the South Fork Dam. Originally known as the Western Reservoir, it was built by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania between 1838-1853, for use as a reservoir to help maintain the water levels of the Canal system of the Main Line of Public Works, which connected Pittsburgh with Philadelphia. The South Fork ...Dam, as we call it today, is most famous for being the dam that failed on May 31st, 1889. This failure was the cause of the Johnstown Flood When the Pennsylvania Railroad Company purchased the Main Line of Public Works in 1857, the South Fork Dam was included in the sale. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company sold the South Fork Dam to Congressman John Reilly, who then sold it to Benjamin Ruff, who rebuilt the South Fork Dam for use as a lake resort for the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, and was used by the club from 1881 to 1889, when the Flood occurred. (SJL)

Although our name is the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, we are here to interpret more than just the 36 mile Railroad that crossed the Allegheny Mountains. We also interpret the Main Line of Public Works, a combined canal and railroad system that connected the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Main Line of Public Works was legislation that was passed in 1826 by the State Legislature of Pennsylvania, with the goal of providing the quickest means of... commercial travel between the two cities. This system was completed in 1834, and comprised of two railroads, the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad and the Allegheny Portage Railroad, and three Canals, the Eastern Division Canal, the Juniata Division Canal, and the Western Division Canal. The combined length of the Main Line of Public Works between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is 391 miles, of which 118 miles is of Railroads and 273 miles of Canals. This system operated from 1834 to 1857, when the Main Line of Public Works was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for $7.5 million dollars, roughly $224 million dollars today. (SJL)

Effective June 19, 2020 The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Based on guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to the park is as follows: Open: The Summit Level Visitor Center will be open daily fro...m 9 AM- 5 PM. Park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Closed: The Summit Level Visitor Center theater, The Lemon House and the Engine House

Solomon Roberts, the Principle Assistant Engineer of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, reflected on its significance a few years after the system opened. "The state of Pennsylvania has reason to be proud of her public improvements, and the Allegheny Portage Railroad is one of the most important links in the great chain which connects Philadelphia with Pittsburgh." (es)

Several accidents happened in the Lemon's mine. In 1840, three men were being lowered into the mine when the rope attached to their car broke within forty feet of the bottom. The car was "smashed to pieces" but the men survived and were cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Lemon. (es)

#DidYouKnow? When digging a well on the Lemons property, a 4 foot vein of coal was found. Mr. Lemon hired several men to work in the mine. (es)

Winter Hours of Operation Beginning January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 the Visitor Center will be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Visitor Center will be open Fridays through Tuesdays from 9 AM- 5 PM. Daily hours of operation will resume on April 1, 2021!... Park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset all year long! (es)

Veteran's Day The Visitor Center is open today from 9 AM- 5 PM. Please note that the Visitor Center Theater, Engine House and Lemon House remain closed. (es) https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/veterans-day.htm

W. H. Schwarts, a boatman, described the Hollidaysburg canal basin during the days of the Main Line Canal: "The basin at Hollidaysburg was decidedly a lively place in those times. Boats were loading and unloading, arriving and departing, and creating considerable commotion." (es)

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day #DidYouKnow? There are various park sites dedicated to World War II. From Pearl Harbor National Memorial to Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, these places tell the story of America's experience during the war. (es) https://www.nps.gov/subjects/worldwarii/index.htm

On the inclined planes of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, 4 cars, each loaded with 7,000 pounds can be ascending while 4 are descending. Per hour, 6 to 10 trips could be made. These cars were pulled by one stationary steam engine in the Engine House structure. (es)

A safety car was incorporated on the Allegheny Portage Railroad to prevent the cars from rolling down the inclines when the ropes broke. The safety car acted as a brake and it was not always put in place if men were in a hurry! (es)

#DidYouKnow? The hemp ropes used on the railroad lasted for an average of 16 months. (es)