Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

Engine House 6 Exhibit Shelter and the Lemon House

Engine House 6 Exhibit Shelter and the Lemon House at the Summit Level of the Allegheny Portage Railroad.

campground map

campground map Campsite D18

The first railroad to circumvent the Allegheny Mountains, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was the finishing piece of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. "The Portage" opened in 1834, marking the first time that there was one, direct route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. All things to all people, it served merchants, passengers, slaves in pursuit of freedom, and soldiers from the Mexican War.

Summit Level Visitor Center

The Summit Level Visitor Center contains exhibits, restrooms, park movie and bookstore.

Engine House 6 Exhibit Shelter

Boardwalk to the historic area

The boardwalk takes you to the historic area at the park

Staple Bend Tunnel

The Staple Bend Tunnel sat at the top of inclined plane 1, just a few miles from Johnstown. The Staple Bend Tunnel can be accessed by hiking or biking approximately 2 miles from the trailhead

Skew Arch Bridge

The Visitor Center bookstore offers a variety of items for sale.

The theater features a 20 minute park movie.

Barrels and crates in the Visitor Center show items that traveled on the Main Line Canal.

Lemon House tavern

The Lemon House was a stop for Allegheny Portage Railroad travelers on the summit.

informational text about campground parking

parking information

campsite with picnic table

Campsite D18

RecAreaDirections

The park is located just off U.S. Route 22 approximately 12 miles west of Altoona and 10 miles east of Ebensburg. Take the Gallitzin Exit and turn right, following the signs. Visitors prior to 1992 accessed the park in other ways, but the GALLITZIN EXIT of US Route 22 is now the way to access the visitor center and historic area.

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Permits info

Facilities

Summit Level Visitor Center Facility

Located immediately off of US Route 22 at the Gallitzin Exit, this is the best place to start your tour. The park movie is shown in the indoor 60 seat auditorium as requested to give a concentrated overview of the park story. The program lasts approximately twenty minutes. The movie is a dramatic interpretation of what it was like to work and travel on the Portage Railroad. A fictional character, Edgar West, explains life on the canals then speaks of a change of occupation to Portage Railroad.

Recreation Areas and Campground Database