Lehigh Canal
Why it's listed
Built as a transportation waterway, the Lehigh Canal ran along the north bank of the Lehigh River between Walnutport and Allentown in this section. Construction began in 1819 and through navigation opened in 1829. Its purpose was to carry anthracite coal from the Mauch Chunk area to Easton, where it could be shipped on the Delaware River or the Delaware Canal to Philadelphia. The route includes 13 locks, 3 guard locks, 3 aqueducts and 3 dams, along with three surviving lock keepers' houses. Lock 26 has intact cut stone walls, and the Bertsch Creek aqueduct is described as perhaps the best remaining example of a Lehigh Canal aqueduct. The canal passes through small communities such as Lockport, Trechlers, Northampton and Catasauqua, which developed alongside it. Coal was the main cargo, though slate, flagstone, timber and farm products were also carried. Shipping on the canal stopped in 1931.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the canal was built to move anthracite coal from the Mauch Chunk area to Easton and Philadelphia, and that it helped form the towns and industry along the Lehigh River. This section passes through several small communities and retains the remaining original dams and aqueduct remains of the system. Its features are generally deteriorated, but much original fabric survives.
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 80003553, listed August 15, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Walnutport to Allentown Section, Allentown and vicinity |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | August 15, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003553 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Josiah White (preliminary survey and initial scope engineering); Canvass White (chief civil engineer) |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most features in this section are deteriorated or overgrown; several dams were breached and the canal was last used for commercial traffic in 1931. |
| Acreage | 48.4 |
| Coordinates | 40.68483, -75.50864 (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 80003553.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.