Davis Island Lock and Dam Site - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Here's a picture of the Davis Island Lock and Dam, which is far more interesting than what's currently visible at this location. You can see the West End Water Authority's sewage treatment plant from here, but no evidence of the former significance of this site. Locks and dams are important things in Pittsburgh's history. Prior to the interstates, before the railroads, the rivers were the highways, and the locks made them navigable by creating pools. This area is called the "Emsworth Pool," named after the Emsworth Dam. There is a historic marker along Route 65 at this spot. Here is the Marker Text: "Below this bridge was the first lock and dam built (1878-1885) on the Ohio River. This was the world's largest movable dam yet constructed, and included the world's first rolling lock gate and widest lock chamber. Built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; replaced by the nearby Emsworth Locks and Dams in 1922."

Street address: Off PA 65, Ohio River Boulevard Avalon, PA USA County / Borough / Parish: Allegheny Year listed: 1980 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Engineering, Transportation, Industry Periods of significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924 Historic function: Transportation, Water-related Current function: None (removed) Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 1: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   05/19/2007 Mr. 0 visited it

View all visits/logs