Hoosac Tunnel
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Hoosac Tunnel carries a railroad line 25,081 feet through Hoosac Mountain, linking North Adams and Florida in western Massachusetts. Cut mostly through mica slate, it averages 24 feet wide and 20 feet high. Crews worked from both portals and from a 1,028-foot central shaft, which later served for ventilation. Conceived for the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, the project was backed by state loans and eventually taken over by the Commonwealth in 1862. Power drills, nitro-glycerin and electric igniting devices sped the work, and the first commercial passenger train ran through on October 13, 1875. The cost included over one hundred lives and more than twenty-eight million dollars. The state sold the tunnel to the Fitchburg Railroad in 1885, and the Boston and Maine acquired it in 1919. It was enlarged in 1925 and repaired after a 1972 roof collapse. Listing recognizes its engineering and its role in transportation and commerce.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the tunnel as an extraordinary engineering accomplishment that symbolizes industrialization and commercial growth in nineteenth-century Massachusetts. It was built to give the state a northerly rail route to the west after the Erie Canal diverted commerce. Construction relied on power drills, nitro-glycerin and electric igniting devices, and the tunnel remained a vital link for freight into the twentieth century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000294, listed November 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | From North Adams on the W to the Deerfield River on the E, North Adams |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | November 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000294 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1875) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a railroad tunnel; the form rates its condition as good and altered, noting a 1972 roof collapse that was reinforced with steel plates. |
| Acreage | 575 |
| Coordinates | 42.67508, -73.04483 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000294.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1466913
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.