Montgomery Locks and Dam

Montgomery Locks and Dam is a two-lock system on the Ohio River in Beaver County that manages vessel passage through a gravity dam structure. The larger commercial lock accommodates barge traffic while the smaller recreational lock serves pleasure boats and smaller craft.

Construction began in 1932 and concluded in June 1936 as part of Depression-era infrastructure development along the Ohio River. The United States Army Corps of Engineers built the facility to improve navigation safety and reliability on the waterway.

The facility is woven into the daily life of river transportation, connecting communities and industries along the waterway. Visitors can observe how this place has shaped the region's connection to commerce and travel.

The site offers viewpoints where visitors can watch vessels pass through the locks, with more traffic typically occurring during warmer months. Arriving early in the day increases chances of seeing active lock operations and boat movements.

An environmental monitoring station at the site has collected water quality data since the late 1930s, making it one of the longest-running observation points on the river. This decades-long record allows researchers to track changes in river conditions and ecosystem health.