Pennsylvania Canal in Duncannon
historical marker
In Duncannon, Perry County, Pennsylvania, a historical marker, erected in 1952 by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, commemorates the Pennsylvania Canal. This extensive canal system was a vital 19th-century transportation network, part of Pennsylvania's Main Line of Public Works. The Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal reached Perry County in 1835, establishing Duncannon as a key port. The canal facilitated the movement of goods like grain, lumber, and coal, connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. This significantly reduced cross-state travel time from weeks to just days. Duncannon was a crucial hub, located where the Eastern and Juniata Divisions met near Duncan's Island. The canal supported local economic growth for decades, transforming quiet settlements into thriving towns with new warehouses and stores. However, operations largely ceased after the devastating 1889 flood and increasing competition from railroads. The Pennsylvania Canal Company officially ended operations in 1901. Today, remnants like stone lock walls and towpath sections along the Juniata River offer a physical connection to this important era of Pennsylvania's transportation history.