Lebanon in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Union Canal Tunnel

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 31, 2015

1. Union Canal Tunnel Marker

Inscription. Monument to first canal tunnel in America stands not far up this road. Built in 1823 under this ridge, the tunnel may be reached by a short walk down the hill on either side. The Union Canal was opened in 1827, and operated until 1884.

Erected 1947 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), and the Union Canal series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1823.

Location. 40° 20.99′ N, 76° 27.609′ W. Marker is in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in Lebanon County. It is on Tunnel Hill Road (Pennsylvania Route 4001). The marker is located in Union Canal Tunnel Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lebanon PA 17046, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in Greater Harrisburg.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Union Canal Tunnel (approx. ¼ mile away); Union Canal Company of Pennsylvania (approx. ¼ mile away); Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (approx. half a mile away); Cleona (approx. 0.7 miles away); Remembering the Men and Women (approx. 0.8 miles away); World War II Memorial

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(approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Cleona (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Imperishable Scroll of Honor (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lebanon.

Also see . . . Oldest tunnel in America. Union Canal Tunnel (est.1827) is the oldest tunnel in America. It was a towpath canal that existed in southeastern Pennsylvania during the 19th century. First proposed in 1690 to connect Philadelphia with the Susquehanna River, it ran approximately 82 mi from Middletown on the Susquehanna below Harrisburg to Reading on the Schuylkill River. Construction began in 1792 during the George Washington Administration, but financial difficulties delayed its completion until 1827 (Submitted on January 12, 2021, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York.)

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 31, 2015

2. Union Canal Tunnel Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 31, 2015

3. Union Canal

Sign in Union Canal Tunnel Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 31, 2015

4. Sign in Union Canal Tunnel Park

HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino, January 10, 2021

5. Union Canal Tunnel Marker

Oldest tunnel in America - Union Canal Tunnel

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 570 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5. submitted on January 15, 2021, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.