Pennsylvania Mainline Canal Juniata Division
historical marker
In Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, a historical marker designates the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal Juniata Division. This marker recognizes a key part of Pennsylvania's early transportation network. The Juniata Division was a component of the larger Pennsylvania Main Line of Public Works, a system approved in 1826. Its purpose was to connect Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Construction of the Juniata Division began in 1826. The canal section near Mifflintown was built between 1828 and 1829. Navigation on this local portion began in early November 1829. The full Juniata Division Canal, spanning 127 miles with 86 locks, opened in 1832. This canal was vital for moving freight and passengers, spurring economic development. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sold the Main Line to the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1857. The Juniata Division ceased operations in the 1870s. Remnants of the canal, including sections of its prism and towpath, remain in the area. The canal represents a significant chapter in Pennsylvania's transportation history.