Lehigh Canal; Allentown to Hopeville Section
Why it's listed
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.
Significance in brief: 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.
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 79002307, listed December 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Along Lehigh River, Bethlehem and |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | December 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002307 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1829-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Josiah White (preliminary survey and initial engineering); Canvass White (chief civil engineer) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | 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. |
| Acreage | 53.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.61943, -75.47733 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 79002307.
- 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.