Western Division of the PA Canal
Also known as: Ligonier Line of PA Canal
Why it's listed
Built as part of the Pennsylvania Main Line, the Western Division ran 104.25 miles from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, with construction beginning in September 1826 and through navigation in July 1829. Engineers Nathan Roberts, George Olmstead and Alonzo Livermore laid out the route, and Livermore's tunnel at Tunnelton, 817 feet long, was the first of its kind west of the Allegheny Mountains. The line crossed the Conemaugh River by stone aqueducts and climbed Chestnut Ridge at Packsaddle Gap with closely spaced locks. Freight from Blairsville to Pittsburgh fell from $8.00 per ton by wagon to $2.40 by canal. Salt from the Saltsburg works was among the first goods shipped east. The canal was abandoned in the early 1860s after the Allegheny aqueduct was destroyed in 1861 and railroads took over, but its channel and towns remain along the route.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the canal was the major east-west transportation route across western Pennsylvania in its operating years, and that it shaped the settlement, commerce and industry of the towns along its course. It cites the engineering of the Conemaugh tunnel and aqueduct and the Lockport aqueduct and locks at Packsaddle Gap as major feats. It also notes that Saltsburg retains much of its canal-period character and that the canal channel there is largely unobstructed.
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 82001537, listed November 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Along the Conemaugh River, Robinson |
|---|---|
| County | Westmoreland County |
| Listed | November 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001537 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1829-1861 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned in the early 1860s after the Allegheny aqueduct was destroyed in 1861; many features have disappeared, and Saltsburg's lock 8 has been torn down while the channel there remains clear. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 40.42534, -79.22962 (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 82001537.
- 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.