Canton Viaduct
Canton Viaduct is a structure in Canton, Massachusetts, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 1984.
Plan your visit
- Access
- Access information not verified
Last checked October 31, 2026 - Location
- Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
National Register listing does not mean a place is open to the public. Parking and accessibility are shown only when verified.
History
Canton Viaduct is a blind arcade cavity wall in Canton, Massachusetts, United States, built in 1834–35 for the Boston and Providence Railroad.
At its completion, it was the longest (615 ft [187 m]) and tallest (70 ft [21 m]) railroad viaduct in the world; today, it is the last surviving viaduct of its kind. It has been in continuous service for 191 years; it now carries high-speed passenger and freight rail service. It supports a train deck about 65 feet (20 m) above the Canton River that passes through six semi-circular portals.
The Canton Viaduct was the final link built for the B&P's then 41-mile (66 km) mainline between Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Today, the viaduct serves Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, as well as Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Providence/Stoughton Line commuter trains. It is located 0.3 miles (0.48 km) south of Canton Junction, at milepost 213.74 (at the north end of the viaduct) reckoned from Pennsylvania Station in New York City.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The official nomination form is linked under Sources.
Other listings in Canton
- Canton Corner Historic District District · listed 2009
- Green Hill Site Site · listed 1980
- Redman Farm House Building · listed 1980
Nearby historic places
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- Stoughton Railroad Station Stoughton, MA · about 4 mi
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- Eliot Memorial Bridge Milton, MA · about 4 mi
- Paul's Bridge Milton, MA · about 5 mi
- Stetson Hall Randolph, MA · about 6 mi