Historic Site and Historical Park · NPS · PA
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
Photo: NPS, Engine House 6 Exhibit Shelter and the Lemon House
Alerts and conditions
Park Closure Staple Bend Tunnel Closure
Due to a rockfall, the interior of the Staple Bend Tunnel is closed. The trail is still open. From the Mineral Point Trailhead, visitors can bypass the tunnel, via a path around the right side of the tunnel structure.
Overview
The first railroad to cross the Allegheny Mountains, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was the final piece of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. "The Portage" opened in 1834, marking the first time that there was one, direct route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. All things to all people, it served merchants, passengers, slaves in pursuit of freedom, and soldiers from the Mexican War.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: The Visitor Center, Engine House No. 6 Exhibit Shelter and the Lemon House are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Buildings are open Fridays through Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Park grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset, weather permitting. Park buildings are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Times listed in "All Park Hours" reflect building operations.
Getting there
The park is located just off U.S. Route 22 approximately 12 miles west of Altoona and 10 miles east of Ebensburg. Take the Gallitzin Exit and turn right, following the signs. Visitors prior to 1992 accessed the park in other ways, but the Gallitzin Exit of US Route 22 is the way to access the visitor center and historic area.
Visitor centers
Weather
The park is located in Cambria County, PA, and is at the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. Therefore, the park often takes on winter extremes. If planning on traveling from a long distance, please contact the park beforehand to ensure that the facilities are open. Please consult weather forecasts to ensure conditions are safe to travel in. Spring, summer, and fall are generally uneventful, but severe thunderstorms can occur.
Phone: 8148866150
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Johnstown Flood National Memorial NPS · 12 miles
- Flight 93 National Memorial NPS · 30 miles
- Fort Necessity National Battlefield NPS · 68 miles
- Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument NPS · 75 miles
- Catoctin Mountain Park NPS · 79 miles
- Antietam National Battlefield NPS · 80 miles