Montgomery Bell Tunnel

Significant dates

Montgomery Bell Tunnel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Montgomery Bell Tunnel (interior view)
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Nearest city	White Bluff, Tennessee
Coordinates	36°8′48.6″N 87°7′19.4″W / 36.146833°N 87.122056°W / 36.146833; -87.122056Coordinates: 36°8′48.6″N 87°7′19.4″W / 36.146833°N 87.122056°W / 36.146833; -87.122056
Built	1819
MPS	Iron Industry on the Western Highland Rim 1790s-1920s MPS
NRHP Reference #	94001188
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

In the late evening, on September 2, 2011, a fire was lit in the tunnel. The amount of driftwood from 2010's flood in the tunnel enlarged the fire. The fire was eventually extinguished in the early hours of the morning. The tunnel, and the road passing over it, were damaged. It and the road were stabilized, however, and Montgomery Bell Tunnel is again safe.

References

↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
1 2 "Montgomery Bell Tunnel". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
1 2 Robie S. Lange (October 1993). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Montgomery Bell Tunnel / Patterson Forge Tunnel" (pdf). National Park Service.
↑ Harpeth River State Park." Retrieved: 2 July 2008.

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

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