Staple Bend Tunnel
A National Historic Landmark
National Register Number: 94001187
Nomination Form
Location: Off Beech Hill Rd (PA3035) south of Mineral Point;
Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Geographic Coordinates: 40.3608N 78.8545W
Statement of Significance (as of designation - April 19, 1994):
Constructed between November 1831 and June 1833,
the Staple Bend Tunnel served as the first railroad tunnel in the
United States. As part of the Allegheny Portage Railroad,
the tunnel and that transportation line were viewed as an
engineering marvel in their day.
This link with the eastern seaboard helped to bring a redirection
of trade and commerce away from shipping down the Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers and thus maintained Philadelphia as a major port.
East EntranceThe east entrance originally had Doric pillars like the west entrance. Their current whereabouts is unknown.
West entrance with Doric pillars still in place.
Approaching the east entrance from the west.