Union Canal Tunnel
Dug through the ridge dividing the waters of the Quittapahilla Creek and Clark’s Run, the tunnel was originally 720 feet long. Drilling was done by hand and blasting with gunpowder through Argillaceous Slate Rock with veins of hard flinty limestone 80 feet below the summit of the ridge. Progress of the work was 5 yards lineal per week.
Work began May, 1825, and was completed in June, 1827, at a total cost of $30,464.29. The tunnel’s length was reduced to 600 feet during the canal enlargement in 1858 at a cost of $8280.
Simeon Guilford was the engineer in charge with John B. Ives as contractor.
The first boat to pass through the tunnel was the Alpha of Tulpehocken on June 12, 1827. Boats were poled through the tunnel against the ceiling while mules were led over the top of the ridge.
Erected 1988 by Lebanon County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks, and the Union Canal series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Union Canal Company of Pennsylvania (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Union Canal Tunnel (approx. ¼ mile away); Remembering the Men and Women (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cleona (approx. 0.7 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Site of Camp Coleman (approx. 1.7 miles away); Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad Station (approx. 1.7 miles away); Reading Railroad Station (approx. 1.7 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
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 412 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
