1849 - 1942

"A few miles above Easton, the Lehigh was pocked with white water at alomst every turning. To navigate it seemed impossible."
Josiah White, Co-founder of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company

Pennsylvania's anthracite (hard coal) lay entombed within isolated, rugged mountain valleys north and west of the turbulent Lehigh River. Anthracite spelled money to those who knew of markets downstream, but low-cost transportation challenged prospective coal barons. By the beginning of the 19th century, eager businessmen struggle toward a solution.

A civil engineering feat of its time, the Lehigh Navigation tamed an almost 1,000 foot elevation drop between White Haven and Easton. Creatively designed, it used dams, hand-dug channels and calm river straits to weave a path downstream. It eventually became known as the largest capacity and longest running towpath canal in America. The section between Mauch Chunk (today's Jim Thorpe) and Easton still offers tow-path trails and watered sections.

Though successful longer than most due to location and industries it spawned, the canal finally closed. Costly floods, railroad systems, evolving highway networks and declining coal sales eventually took their toll. The last boat floated peacefully along the canal the evening before the flood of 1942. An era and lifestyle ended.

Each boat captain warned locktenders of their approach through some type of horn. Conch shells were popular.

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Show me all markers in:  Jim Thorpe, PA  |  Carbon County  |  18229  |  Pennsylvania  |  United States of America

Anthracite
Mauch Chunk Railroad Station
Packer Mansion
Carbon County
The Self Made Man
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The Mansion House
National War Savings Campaign of 1918
Coal Transport in Mauch Chunk

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