Special Event

Event

Allegheny Portage Railroad Van Tour

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

Fee:

Free.

Dates & Times

Date:

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Time:

1:00 PM

Duration:

4 hours

Type of Event

Guided Tour
Ride

Description

Travel back in time with a park ranger on June 21 for a free van tour of the historic route of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. This tour follows the entire route of the Portage Railroad from the canal basin in Hollidaysburg to the canal basin in Johnstown. Visitors will learn how this engineering marvel was built and hear the compelling stories of the men and women who built and operated what was the most important route westward from 1834 to 1857.

In many places the route will follow the exact path of the old Portage Railroad and will take visitors to the Staple Bend Tunnel. In addition, the tour will take passengers past the Skew Arch Bridge, the reconstruction of Engine House No. 6, the historic Lemon House, and several historic culverts.

This free tour begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site Visitor Center on select Saturdays throughout the summer. The tour is four hours in length. Space is limited to twelve people and reservations are required.

The tour takes place in a 15-passenger van. Personal space may be limited depending on the number of participants signed up. Please note that maneuvering on and off the van may be difficult.

Accommodations for children under the age of eight cannot be made due to Pennsylvania law. The child safety law states that children eight years of age and under must be in an appropriate booster seat. Please be advised that because we cannot ensure that car seats are properly and safely installed on the vans and/or the bus, we cannot accommodate them on van tours. If a child arrived at the park in a car seat, they must always be in a car seat, while in a motorized vehicle. No allowances will be made for "holding" children while on a van tour. Thank you for your understanding!

Reservation or Registration: Yes

Reservations open on May 1 and are required due to limited space in the van. Please call the Visitor Center at 814-886-6150 to sign up!

Contact Information

Park staff
814-886-6150