{"nrhp_refnum":"79002307","name":"Lehigh Canal; Allentown to Hopeville Section","other_names":[],"category":"district","location":{"address":"Along Lehigh River","address_restricted":false,"city":"Bethlehem and","county":"Northampton County","state":"PA","lat":40.61943431000006,"lon":-75.47732702204357,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1979-12-17","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Industry","Commerce","Engineering","Transportation"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A section of the Lehigh Canal, about 11.12 miles long, following the Lehigh River through Lehigh and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania, including five locks, a guard lift lock, a dam at Hamilton Street in Allentown, and an aqueduct over Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem. Construction of the canal began in 1819 and through navigation started in 1829.","why_significant":"The canal carried anthracite coal from Carbon County to Philadelphia and had a significant economic and industrial impact on the Lehigh Valley, especially the Allentown-Bethlehem region. The nomination links the canal to population growth, iron and industrial development, urbanization of Allentown, and agricultural shipments. The section is one of the three best preserved stretches of the canal.","narrative":"Running about 11 miles beside the Lehigh River through Lehigh and Northampton Counties, this section of canal includes five locks, a guard lift lock, a dam at Hamilton Street in Allentown, and an aqueduct over Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem. Construction began in 1819, and through navigation opened in 1829 as each section was completed. Built to move anthracite coal from the mines of Carbon County toward Easton and Philadelphia, the canal carried coal, slate, flagstone, timber and farm products on boats drawn by mules. Its importance lies in its effect on the surrounding valley. Allentown's population grew rapidly during the canal years, and iron production, heavy industry and urban growth followed the cheap transport of coal and the availability of water power. Iron shipments rose from 303 tons in 1830 to 6,638 tons in 1839, the canal's peak year. Of the canal's surviving stretches, this one is regarded as among the best preserved.","period_of_significance":"1829-1931","architect_builder":"Josiah White (preliminary survey and initial engineering); Canvass White (chief civil engineer)","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"The canal from Allentown to Easton is described as in excellent condition with water in most of its length; the last commercial traffic was in 1931.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:11:34.134653-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/79002307.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71994674","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/northampton-county/lehigh-canal-allentown-to-hopeville-section-79002307/"}