Port of Reading Heritage Trail

                                             Photo Courtesy of: Berks Hiking Club

Pennsylvania's Canal Era 1792-1931 (text from Pennsylvania Canal Society)

Pennsylvania's canals were built during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The canals were dug by men whose tools were picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows. Hard work, poor living conditions, and disease took many lives. But it was these burly men and their "watery highway" that began the industrial revolution and opened the Northwest Territory.

Throughout our new nation, more than 4,000 miles of towpath canals were dug. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1,356 miles of canals (more than in any other state) linked together her cities, vilages, factories, mines, and farms. The canal system went over the mighty Allegheny Mountains. The echo of the boatmen's conch was heard far into the deep river valleys as the canal boats were pulled by horses and mules through Penn's woods.

Today, one no longer hears the soft clip-clop of mule teams. Only the whisper of the wind sings softly among the wild flowers that cover the tow paths. Where once a brawny locktender watched for approaching boats, now, on a large stone that long ago held together the busy lock, a frog watches the approaching dragonfly.

You can still experience some of the long-forgotten canal era which moved travelers and goods before the railroads snorted and smoked their way across our nation. Throughout RiverPlace there are many places where reminders of the days of the canals can be seen.

Project Status: Our historian and sign location team are hard at work writing and designing over two dozen interpretive signs for this trail that will reveal an important chapter in our community - the canals and port facilities.  Expect to see these trailhead and site signs going up along the trails of RiverPlace this summer and fall.

Click here to view Port of Reading Heritage Trail Guide

Port of Reading Heritage Trail
Proposed Signage Locations North		Proposed Signage Locations South

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