Montgomery Bell Tunnel, Water tunnel in Kingston Springs, Tennessee.
The limestone tunnel stretches 290 feet in length, with a rectangular profile topped by a segmented arch measuring 8 feet high and 15 feet wide.
Montgomery Bell directed the construction of this water diversion tunnel in 1819, employing enslaved workers to blast through limestone using black powder techniques.
The tunnel stands as the first full-scale water diversion structure in the United States, earning recognition as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1981.
Visitors can reach the tunnel through a brief ten-minute walk from the designated parking area near the Harpeth River boat launch point.
The tunnel redirects water through a natural river bend known as the Narrows of the Harpeth, creating a 16-foot vertical drop for industrial power generation.
Location: Tennessee
GPS coordinates: 36.14683,-87.12206
Latest update: March 13, 2025 11:37
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