History

The Pennsylvania Canal system reached Perry County in 1835 with the opening of the Juniata Division, transforming quiet settlements into thriving towns. Villages such as Newport, Millerstown, and Duncannon grew rapidly as key ports, with warehouses, stores, and homes rising along the waterfront. The canal provided the primary transportation route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, shortening travel time and facilitating efficient movement of goods.

Barges transported grain, lumber, coal, and other products along the Juniata River eastward bringing prosperity to local farmers, merchants, and mill owners, including those at John Henry Mill at Little Buffalo State Park, shown above. For decades, the waterway supported economic growth through a network of locks, aqueducts, and towpaths.

However, the devastating 1889 flood combined with competition from railroads brought operations to an end. The railroads that replaced the canal followed much the same valley corridors and remain in active use today, connecting Perry County’s communities to broader markets.

Remnants of the canal era – stone lock walls, overgrown basins, and sections of towpath – persist along the Juniata River, offering a tangible link to this pivotal period in the county’s development.