Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

09/01/2026

in 1853

If you lived in the mid 19th Century, and needed a job, where would you look? The local newspapers of course! The Allegheny Portage Railroad would regularly post jobs or contracts to make necessary supplies or materials needed for the operation of the railroad, such as this posting from August 26, 1853, looking for proposals to provide cord wood for use on the Allegheny Portage Railroad. (SJL)

Image: A job posting in the August 26, 1853, edition of Democrat and Sentinel asking for potential contractors to provide bids for cord wood for the Allegheny Portage Railroad.

08/31/2026

in 1964

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site becomes a unit of the National Park Service!

On August 31, 1964, The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial become units of the National Park Service with Public Law 88-546!

The first railroad to cross the Allegheny Mountains, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was the final piece of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal.

08/29/2026

Before the Allegheny Portage Railroad was able to operate, workers had to haul ropes to all 10 incline planes. The total length of all the ropes was 50,347 feet and they weighed approximately 18,649 pounds. During the first year of operation in 1834, Rowland Humphreys was hired to distribute all the ropes to the inclines by wagon. He would take the ropes from the rigger's loft in Summitville to each of the inclines of the Portage.

Image: An inclined plane with an engine house at the top.

08/27/2026

National Park Week

Thankful Thursday

We’d like to send a big thank you to everyone who attended a hike, van tour or program this summer at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site!
Image: A park ranger in period clothing presents a demonstration.

08/25/2026

Happy Birthday to the National Park Service! The National Park Service was established as part of the Department of the Interior 110 years ago. Part of the Organic Act of 1916 stated: The service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purposes of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.
How are you celebrating the birthday of the National Park Service?

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/nps-birthday.htm

National Park Service Birthday

08/23/2026

National Park Week

Safety Sunday

We want you to have a fun and safe visit Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. You can keep up to date on the latest weather and other safety measures on our website.

https://www.nps.gov/alpo/planyourvisit/safety.htm

Safety

08/22/2026

"Snake heads" were one of dangers people could encounter while traveling on the Allegheny Portage Railroad. Occasionally the thin iron strips on top the wooden rails would come loose and poke through the bottom of the train car. These iron strips, or "snake heads" could provide a shock to the passengers as it would poke up unexpectedly through the floor and the jagged piece of metal looked like the head of a snake. Passengers had to move out of the way quickly to avoid being injured. Later on the Portage used all iron rails to prevent this from happening.

Image: Two different types of track used on the Allegheny Portage Railroad.

08/20/2026

The Main Line of Public Works was built by the State of Pennsylvania, and to use this system, a toll would be charged to the user. This toll would not be a flat rate toll. A flat rate toll means that the toll would be the same amount for every item transported on the system. Instead, a variable toll rate was used, with each item/material having a different toll rate. These tolls were based on the market value of each material, meaning that the more expensive items would have higher tolls compared to the less expensive items. Another major factor in calculating tolls was how much space and volume a given amount of a product occupied as well as by barrel.

Image 1: The March 1, 1845, edition of The Patriot shows the rates of toll to be charged on the Pennsylvania Canals and Railroads.
Image 2: The rates of toll for the 1842 season, as seen in the January 26, 1842, edition of The Keystone.

08/18/2026

Join us tonight for an Evening on the Summit presentation. A Giant in Those Days: The Life of John White Geary will be presented at 7 p.m. in the visitor center auditorium. This free program explores the life of John White Geary, the Allegheny Portage Railroad's most successful superintendent, and his impact on America at large. This program is presented by park ranger Steven Lonergan.

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08/16/2026

On August 4, 1825, a convention of delegates representing nearly all the counties was held in Harrisburg to discuss the need for internal improvements by way of canals. Just a few months later, the Erie Canal would be completed in the state of New York.

Image: Erie Canal.