Auburn Tunnel facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Auburn, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40°36′48″N 76°06′56″W / 40.61333°N 76.11556°W |
| Status | open cut, abandoned |
| System | Schuylkill Canal |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 1818 |
| Closed | 1857, converted to cut |
| Owner | Schuylkill Navigation Company |
| Technical | |
| Length | 450 feet (140 m) |
| Highest elevation | 471 feet (144 m) above Delaware River, mid tide |
| Tunnel clearance | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Width | 15 feet (4.6 m) |
The Auburn Tunnel was a very important tunnel built a long time ago, in the 1800s. It was part of the Schuylkill Canal near Auburn, Pennsylvania. This tunnel holds a special place in history because it was the very first tunnel ever built for transportation in the United States.
Contents
Why Was the Auburn Tunnel Built?
The Auburn Tunnel was built for the Schuylkill Canal. Canals are like man-made rivers that help boats move goods and people. The company that built the canal, the Schuylkill Navigation Company, started working on the tunnel in 1818. It officially opened in 1821.
A Tunnel for Fun
What's interesting is that the tunnel wasn't strictly needed. The hill it went through could have easily been bypassed. But the builders decided to add the tunnel anyway! They wanted it to be a cool and exciting feature. It was like a special attraction for people traveling on the canal.
A Popular Sight
The tunnel quickly became a huge hit! People traveled from far away, even over 97 miles (156 kilometers) from Philadelphia, just to see it. Imagine how exciting it must have been to go through the first transportation tunnel in the country!
How the Tunnel Changed Over Time
The Auburn Tunnel was about 450 feet (137 meters) long when it was first built. It was 22 feet (6.7 meters) high and 15 feet (4.6 meters) wide.
Getting Shorter
Over the years, the tunnel was made shorter more than once. This might have been to make it easier for boats to pass through or for maintenance.
Becoming an Open Cut
Finally, in 1857, the tunnel was completely changed. Instead of being a dark tunnel, it was "daylighted." This means the top of the tunnel was removed, turning it into an open-cut. So, it became like a deep ditch or trench that boats could pass through, open to the sky. After this change, the tunnel was no longer a tunnel but an open channel.
