Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel

The Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel is a testing facility at Pennsylvania State University with a 48-inch diameter pipe arranged in a 257-foot loop. The system pumps large volumes of water through the tubes to examine how objects react in flowing liquids.

The facility was founded in 1949 and named after naval officer Garfield Thomas Jr., who died during World War II. It emerged as a research center during a time when fluid dynamics became essential to engineering.

The facility serves as a teaching tool where students gain hands-on experience studying how water moves and behaves at high speeds. Visitors can observe engineers actively using the equipment for their research projects.

Plan ahead since the facility is tied to a university and does not operate like a public attraction. Tours and access are typically organized through academic departments and may require permission.

The tunnel enabled technologies that extend far beyond water systems and show up in everyday devices like vacuum cleaners. This unexpected connection shows how basic research about flow leads to practical uses across many fields.

Location: University Park

Inception: October 7, 1949

Official opening: 1950

Website: https://arl.psu.edu

GPS coordinates: 40.79305,-77.86822

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:00