Backwards Tunnel
National Register of Historic Places

Backwards Tunnel

Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey
Listed
December 28, 2005
Type
Structure
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
05001483

About this property

Backwards Tunnel, also known as the Ogdensburg Railroad Arch, is located in Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The tunnel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 28, 2005. The tunnel was built in 1871 by the New Jersey Midland Railway in order to cross the Wallkill Valley. New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway took over control of the tunnel in 1881 when the Midland Railway Line was merged into it. The tunnel was first referenced as the Backwards Tunnel in 1976 because it was thought that the tunnel should have been wider over the road than over the river. Ogdensburg declared the tunnel a borough historic site in 1991. A flood in 2000 which caused two nearby dams to burst damaged the tunnel. A book was published in 2009 about the history of the tunnel. The tunnel is a double stone arch design and is a 180 feet long. The one arch which Cork Hill Road runs through measures 16 feet wide and 15 feet tall. The other arch which the Wallkill River flows through measures 20 wide and 16 feet tall. The rail line ran on top of the tunnel. National Register of Historic Places listings in Sussex County, New Jersey List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey Sterling Hill Mining Museum, located nearby the tunnel and also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location

Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey
41.08792, -74.60128

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONENGINEERING
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Backwards Tunnel

This page lists Backwards Tunnel. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Backwards Tunnel report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Sterling Hill Mine
Industrial
0.3 mi
Old Monroe School House
Industrial
2.5 mi
Bethany Chapel
Industrial
4.3 mi
White Deer Plaza and Boardwalk District
Listed
4.4 mi
Lawrence Mansion
Industrial
4.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Backwards Tunnel listed on the National Register?

Backwards Tunnel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 28, 2005.

What type of historic resource is Backwards Tunnel?

Backwards Tunnel is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Backwards Tunnel?

The period of significance for Backwards Tunnel is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1871.

Can I research the history near Backwards Tunnel?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Backwards Tunnel will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Sussex County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Sussex County.

Explore SussexCounty ›

More historic places in New Jersey

Browse all historic places in New Jersey.

View New Jerseyhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Jersey history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Jerseyhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Backwards Tunnel will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report