Union Canal (Pennsylvania)

Union Canal
A network of east-west canals and connecting railroads spanned Pennsylvania from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. North-south canals connecting with this east-west canal ran between West Virginia and Lake Erie on the west, Maryland and New York in the center, and along the border with Delaware and New Jersey on the east. Many shorter canals connected cities such as York, Port Carbon, and Franklin to the larger network.
Map of Pennsylvania's historic canals and connecting railroads
Map
Specifications
Locks93
StatusAbandoned except for historic interest
History
Original ownerUnion Canal Company
Principal engineerCanvass White
Construction began1811
Date completed1828
Date closed1885
Geography
Start pointReading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
End pointMiddletown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Branch(es)Branch Canal to Pine Grove
Connects toSchuylkill Canal, Pennsylvania Canal (Eastern Division)

The Union Canal was a towpath canal that existed in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States during the 19th century. First proposed in 1690 to connect Philadelphia with the Susquehanna River, it ran approximately 82 mi from Middletown on the Susquehanna below Harrisburg to Reading on the Schuylkill River.