National Historic Landmark

Horseshoe Curve

Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Listed
November 13, 1966
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000647

About this property

The Horseshoe Curve is a three-track railroad curve on Norfolk Southern Railway's Pittsburgh Line in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. The curve is roughly 2,375 feet (700 m) long and 1,300 feet (400 m) in diameter. Completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a way to reduce the westbound grade to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains, it replaced the time-consuming Allegheny Portage Railroad, which was the only other route across the mountains for large vehicles. The curve was later owned and used by three Pennsylvania Railroad successors: Penn Central, Conrail, and Norfolk Southern. Horseshoe Curve has long been a tourist attraction. A trackside observation park was completed in 1879. The park was renovated and a visitor center built in the early 1990s. The Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona manages the center, which has exhibits pertaining to the curve. The Horseshoe Curve was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It became a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2004.

Location

Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
40.49795, -78.48510

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
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

Broad Avenue Historic District
Listed
3.8 mi
Knickerbocker Historic District
Modern
3.8 mi
Baker Mansion
Industrial
4.1 mi
Allegheny Furnace
Industrial
4.1 mi
Llyswen Historic District
Modern
4.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Horseshoe Curve listed on the National Register?

Horseshoe Curve was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Horseshoe Curve?

Horseshoe Curve is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Horseshoe Curve a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Horseshoe Curve has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Horseshoe Curve?

The period of significance for Horseshoe Curve is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Horseshoe Curve?

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