Montgomery Bell Tunnel, Water tunnel in Kingston Springs, Tennessee.
Montgomery Bell Tunnel is a limestone water passage measuring 290 feet long with a rectangular opening topped by a segmented arch standing 8 feet high and 15 feet wide. The structure served as part of a water diversion system that redirected river flow to power industrial operations nearby.
Built in 1819 under Montgomery Bell's direction using enslaved workers who blasted through limestone with black powder, this tunnel became one of the first complete water diversion structures created in the United States for industrial purposes. The engineering approach influenced later water power projects across the country.
This tunnel reflects an early approach to harnessing water power for industry in America, showing how people engineered rivers to serve their factories. Visitors can observe how the diversion directed flow into a separate channel to turn mill wheels.
The tunnel is accessible from the parking area near the Harpeth River boat launch by a short ten-minute walk. The path is straightforward to follow and the surrounding area offers visual landmarks along the riverbank to guide visitors.
Water drops 16 feet vertically as it flows through the narrow section of the Harpeth River, which the engineer deliberately used to generate power. This elevation change was critical to how the mill wheels operated.
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