- Montgomery Bell Tunnel
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Montgomery Bell Tunnel
Montgomery Bell Tunnel (interior view)
Nearest city: White Bluff, Tennessee Coordinates: 36°8′48.6″N 87°7′19.4″W / 36.146833°N 87.122056°WCoordinates: 36°8′48.6″N 87°7′19.4″W / 36.146833°N 87.122056°W Built: 1819 Governing body: State MPS: Iron Industry on the Western Highland Rim 1790s-1920s MPS NRHP Reference#: 94001188 Significant dates Added to NRHP: April 19, 1994[1] Designated NHL: April 19, 1994[2] The Montgomery Bell Tunnel, also known as the 'Patterson Forge Tunnel, in Cheatham County, Tennessee, is a 290-foot (88 m) long tunnel through limestone rock which was the first "full-scale" water diversion tunnel built in the United States. It is also apparently the first "full-scale" tunnel of any type in the United States, according to histories of tunneling. It was built in 1819 by Montgomery Bell using the labor of slaves.[3]
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994.[2][3] It is now included in Harpeth River State Park.[4]
It was built at about the same time, but apparently slightly before, the 450-foot (140 m) Auburn Tunnel of Pennsylvania's Schuylkill Navigation Canal, which began use in 1821.
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b "Montgomery Bell Tunnel". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1155&ResourceType=Structure. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ a b Robie S. Lange (October, 1993). National Historic Landmark Nomination: Montgomery Bell Tunnel / Patterson Forge TunnelPDF (32 KB). National Park Service
- ^ Harpeth River State Park." Retrieved: 2 July 2008.
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Categories:- Tennessee Registered Historic Place stubs
- National Historic Landmarks in Tennessee
- Buildings and structures in Cheatham County, Tennessee
- Water tunnels
- Infrastructure-related listings on the National Register of Historic Places
- Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks
- Tunnels in Tennessee
- Tunnels on the National Register of Historic Places
- Tunnels completed in 1819
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