{"nrhp_refnum":"74001817","name":"Western Division-Pennsylvania Canal","other_names":["Conemaugh River Lake","Ligonier Line of Pennsylvania Canal"],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"N of Torrance","address_restricted":false,"city":"Torrance","county":"Westmoreland County","state":"PA","lat":40.42517940350007,"lon":-79.22962048947485,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1974-09-17","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce","Engineering","Transportation"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A segment of the Western Division of the Pennsylvania Canal in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, running parallel to the Conemaugh River near Torrance, with three locks still evident. The canal was built as part of the state canal system authorized in 1826 and 1827, with the Ligonier Line ready for use in December 1830.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the canal was a major 19th-century transportation route linking Pittsburgh, Blairsville and Johnstown and that it had notable engineering and transportation significance. It records early traffic, notable passengers and the fact that the canal was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1857. The engineering work, done largely by hand, is presented as part of the canal's importance.","narrative":"A canal segment in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, built parallel to the Conemaugh River above the river level so it would not flood after heavy rain. Construction followed a state act of 1827 that approved the Western Division from Pittsburgh to Blairsville, with an extension to Johnstown approved in 1828. The Ligonier Line was ready for use in December 1830. Excavation was done by hand with pick, shovel, wheelbarrows and black powder, and the lock walls were built of large stones shaped on site. Canal boats carried passengers and freight, and the route was used by travellers including Charles Dickens in 1842. The canal was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1857. Three locks remain visible, and the towpath is now a walking trail.","period_of_significance":"19th Century","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Most of the segment remains in its original state, slightly overgrown; the towpath is used as a walking trail.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:11:29.820576-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/74001817.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71998368","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/westmoreland-county/western-division-pennsylvania-canal-74001817/"}