National Historic Landmark

Staple Bend Tunnel

Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Listed
April 18, 1994
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
94001187

About this property

The Staple Bend Tunnel, about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in a town called Mineral Point, was constructed between 1831 and 1834 for the Allegheny Portage Railroad. Construction began on April 12, 1831. This tunnel, at 901 feet (275 m) in length, was the first railway tunnel constructed in the United States. It is rock-bored and stone-lined. Finished in June 1833, the Staple Bend Tunnel was advertised as the first railroad tunnel in the United States. It was the third tunnel of any kind built in the U.S.; the first two tunnels were for canals in Pennsylvania.

Location

Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
40.35915, -78.85511

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONENGINEERING
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

Old Conemaugh Borough Historic District
Listed
3.6 mi
Cambria Iron Company
Listed
3.9 mi
Grand Army of the Republic Hall
Civil War
4 mi
Cambria Public Library Building
Industrial
4.1 mi
Downtown Johnstown Historic District
Listed
4.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Staple Bend Tunnel listed on the National Register?

Staple Bend Tunnel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1994.

What type of historic resource is Staple Bend Tunnel?

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

Is Staple Bend Tunnel a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Staple Bend Tunnel 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 Staple Bend Tunnel?

The period of significance for Staple Bend Tunnel is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Staple Bend Tunnel?

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