Delaware Canal State Park

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The restored Sommer's Bridge in Delaware Canal State Park.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal State Park.

Delaware Canal State Park

Sommer’s Bridge

The park is located along the historic canal and towpath

paralleling the Delaware River on the Pennsylvania side

from Easton to Bristol.

Sommer’s Bridge spans the canal

in Lower Makefield Township

approximately a half mile south of I-95.

Website:  Delaware Canal State Park

The Treasure:  The Delaware Canal is a national treasure and the restored bridges that cross it, like the Sommer’s Bridge, add to its authenticity.

Background:  Two years after New York’s Erie Canal opened to lots of fanfare in 1825, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed a bill to dig a canal of its own. There were solid economic reasons for states to invest in canals. As the most cost-efficient commercial transportation systems then available, canals were good for business. Large deposits of anthracite coal had been discovered in northeastern Pennsylvania and there were huge markets for the coal in cities like Newark, New York City, and Philadelphia. To get the coal to Newark and New York City, New Jersey dug the Morris Canal. And in Pennsylvania, the Delaware Canal was constructed to transport the coal to the state’s largest city, mutually benefitting the economies of northeastern Pennsylvania and the growing industries of Philadelphia.

View from Sommer's Bridge.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal
State Park.

The digging commenced in October 1827. Nearly five years later, the 60-mile-long canal celebrated the delivery of its first shipment of coal, with a loaded barge traversing the distance from Easton to Bristol. During its first forty years, the Delaware Canal more than justified its $1.43 million expense, fueling the growth of industry in eastern Pennsylvania. The engineering required was impressive:  the canal utilized 23 lift locks to control water flow, along with an array of aqueducts, waste gates, dams, and overflows. But in practice, it didn’t look particularly sophisticated. Slow but steady, teams of mules trudged along the towpath, pulling barges loaded with up to 90 tons of coal.

The heyday of the American canals lasted only a few decades. As new railroad lines were built in the middle of the 19th century, the important role of the Delaware Canal slowly diminished. The last commercial barge descended down the canal in 1931. Appreciative of the historic importance and beauty of the canal and towpath, local citizens have consistently fought for its preservation over the years, from its initial establishment as Theodore Roosevelt State Park in 1940 through today’s maintenance of Delaware Canal State Park by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Sign posted during the restoration.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal
State Park.

Save America’s Treasures funding was used to preserve one of the original bridges built to span the canal. Dating back to 1831, Sommer’s Bridge is located just 15 miles from the terminus of the canal at Bristol, close to Philadelphia. In the early days, over one hundred small camelback bridges of this type crossed the canal. Today, only six remain. Thanks to the Save America’s Treasures funding, Sommer’s Bridge was the fourth of these surviving historic bridges to be restored.

The best way to see Sommer’s Bridge is to hike the towpath, a National Recreation Trail.

Sommer's Bridge during restoration.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal State Park.

Sommer's Bridge, restored.
Photo courtesy of Delaware Canal State Park.

Other Recommended Sites:  A hike along the towpath takes you past one historic site after another, with opportunities for stopovers at several delightful small towns. For iconic national history, Washington Crossing Historic Park is located just three miles north of Sommer’s Bridge. Small towns like Yardley, New Hope, Lumberville, Erwinna, and Upper Black Eddy cater to tourist crowds who come to Bucks County for the scenic riverfront, the antique shops, the bed and breakfast inns, and many fine restaurants.

Delaware Canal State Park.  Photo by Bradford Van Arnum.
Source:  Wikimedia Commons.

Tour America's History Itinerary

Wednesday:  Atmosphere and Environment XII by Louise Nevelson

© 2013 Lee Price