Bald Eagle and Spring Creek Navigation

The Bald Eagle and Spring Creek Navigation was a canal system built to transport goods through Centre County using a series of locks and waterways. The channel connected industrial towns and allowed cargo boats to move goods between different parts of the region and connect to larger transportation networks.

The canal system was established in the 1830s to connect the region's industries with other parts of Pennsylvania. Operations were later interrupted by severe flooding, leading to the eventual abandonment of the route.

Local wealthy families and Philadelphia investors provided capital for the canal, demonstrating the period's commitment to transportation infrastructure development.

Visitors can explore the canal remains at various locations, especially near former ironworks sites. It works best to visit multiple spots by car or on foot, as they are spread across the region.

Along the former canal route, stone lock structures still stand today from the original construction, showing how waterways were engineered in the 1800s. These remains reveal the practical skills workers used to move goods across changes in elevation and terrain.