National Register of Historic Places

Davis Island Lock and Dam Site

Avalon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Listed
August 28, 1980
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80003400

About this property

The Davis Island Lock and Dam Site on the Ohio River in Avalon, Pennsylvania, is the site of the former Davis Island lock that was completed in 1885. The lock and dam existed from 1878 to 1922, designed by William Emery Merrill and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Davis Island Lock and Dam was the first dam that was constructed on the Ohio River. It officially opened on October 7, 1885, with a large dedication ceremony. The Davis Island Dam was the largest Chanoine dam built in the 19th century, and one of the first concrete structures built by the Army Corps of Engineers. It was the first of 51 Chanoine type dams that were built by the Corps of Engineers between 1878 and 1929. The dam was dismantled in 1922, when it was replaced by the Emsworth Locks and Dam less than a mile downstream of the original site. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 29, 1980 and designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1985. It is now owned by the West View Water Authority and is used primarily to pump water from the Ohio River, which then goes on to be purified and is used by the surrounding communities for drinking.

Location

Avalon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
40.49301, -80.06533

Categories

INDUSTRYENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Miller, Andrew S. and Elizabeth, House
Industrial
0.7 mi
McKees Rocks Bridge
Industrial
1.5 mi
Morrow, John, Elementary School
Industrial
1.6 mi
Perry High School
Industrial
2.5 mi
Allegheny Observatory
Industrial
2.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Braddock's Defeat 1755
1755Colonial
3.7 mi
Battle of Fort Duquesne Approach 1755
1758Colonial
3.8 mi
Siege of Fort Pitt (Pontiac's Rebellion)
1763Colonial
4.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Davis Island Lock and Dam Site listed on the National Register?

Davis Island Lock and Dam Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Davis Island Lock and Dam Site?

Davis Island Lock and Dam Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Davis Island Lock and Dam Site?

The period of significance for Davis Island Lock and Dam Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Davis Island Lock and Dam Site?

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