The Allegheny Portage Railroad is a National Historic Site that is located at 110 Federal Park Road near Cresson, Pennsylvania. The Allegheny Portage Railroad ran through the Allegheny Mountains in central Pennsylvania. It was the first railroad that was ever constructed through the Allegheny Mountains.
The Allegheny Portage Railroad was in operation from 1834 to 1854 and consisted of a series of ten inclines. The railroad was roughly 36 miles long and enabled barge traffic to flow freely between the Susquehanna and Ohio rivers. A significant accomplishment for its day, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was the first railroad in the United States to include a railroad tunnel. Welsh coalminers carved the tunnel through solid rock, and the tunnel was approximately 900 feet long.
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site's regular hours of operation are 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. The site is closed on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Hours of operation are subject to change due to inclement weather or holidays. Visitors can call 814-886-6150 to obtain additional information about the site's hours of operation.
The entrance fee for the site is $4 for each individual over 16 years of age. Children ages 15 and under are admitted free of charge. In addition to the entrance fee, visitors are able to purchase a Local Passport. The Local Passport permits visitors to enter the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, and Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Passport passes are $15. One pass is valid for the pass holder, their accompanying spouse, their parents, and their children.
The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is now operated by the National Park Service. The remains of the original railroad have been preserved within the site. This National Historic Site consists of roughly 1,296 acres. The main portion of the site is made up of the Summit Level Visitors Center, the Engine House #6 Exhibit Shelter, the Skew Arch Bridge, and the historic Lemon House.
Individuals visiting the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site may be interested in stopping by the Lemon House. The Lemon House was a tavern that was located by the Allegheny Portage Railroad. It was a popular destination for railroad passengers, and the National Park Service converted the Lemon House into a historical museum.
The Summit Level Visitors Center is located near the Lemon House and includes interpretive exhibits. There is also one audio exhibit, which is located at the Engine House Six Exhibit Shelter. Visitors have onsite access to restrooms, drinking fountains, and a picnic area.
The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site consists of both paved walkways and unpaved trails. Visitors can hike the trails to view the nature around them, and they can also walk the wooden boardwalk. The boardwalk does close during inclement weather and is also closed during the winter for safety reasons. Photography is permitted, but filming for commercial purposes is not allowed unless the individual have completed a commercial filming application and had their application approved.
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