Pennsylvania Route 134
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 134 also called Taneytown Road, is a north–south, two-lane state highway
in Pennsylvania
. It runs in Cumberland
and Mount Joy
townships from Gettysburg
to the Mason-Dixon Line
. The road was used during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg
and used for the procession to the cemetery consecration at which the Gettysburg Address
was delivered.
border at Harney Road, the road heads through agricultural areas with a few homes and patches of woods. After passing through Barlow
, PA 134 crosses the Rock Creek into Cumberland Township
. At this point, the route turns north and reaches an interchange with the US 15
freeway. Past this interchange, the road enters the grounds of Gettysburg National Military Park
and passes through the community of Round Top
. Continuing through more of the park, the route runs to the west of Evergreen Cemetery
. PA 134 enters Gettysburg
and ends at US 15 Business near Gettysburg National Cemetery
.
on Rock Creek to the road from "Routsough's Mill to Tawney Town", Maryland
. In 1841, the first bridge of two 60 feet (18.3 m) covered spans was built on the creek downstream of the Black's Mill dam, and the bridge and a downstream ford were used by Union troops during the Battle of Gettysburg
. From 1894 to 1916, the Gettysburg Electric Railway
operated over 800 feet (243.8 m) of the road on the south slope of Cemetery Hill
. Just to the south of the tracks in , a battlefield "avenue tablet" was placed to identify the road. After part of the "Taneytown and Gettysburg Road" near the Gettysburg Battlefield
was ceded to the United States Department of War
in 1905 following Congressional authorization, 2443 feet (744.6 m) from the borough line to beyond Meade's headquarters was "reconstructed on the Telford system" (graded and "piked") to a width of 16 feet (4.9 m). A west gate for the Gettysburg National Cemetery
was built on Taneytown Road at Cemetery Hill
, followed by the nearby entrance gate to the Gettysburg National Military Park
designed by Emmor Cope
for Grand Central Avenue's north end on the Taneytown Road's west side. In 1915, the portion of the road from Steinwehr Avenue to the United States arsenal was macadam
ized. By 1930, PA 134 was assigned to its current alignment between the Maryland border and US 15 (now US 15 Business), with the section south of Round Top under construction. The section under construction was completed by 1940.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It runs in Cumberland
Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland Township is a township in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,718 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
and Mount Joy
Mount Joy Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Mount Joy Township is a township in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,232 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 26.1 square miles , of which, 25.9 square miles of it is land and...
townships from Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
to the Mason-Dixon Line
Mason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...
. The road was used during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
and used for the procession to the cemetery consecration at which the Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and is one of the most well-known speeches in United States history. It was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery...
was delivered.
Route description
From the MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
border at Harney Road, the road heads through agricultural areas with a few homes and patches of woods. After passing through Barlow
Barlow, Pennsylvania
Barlow, Pennsylvania is a populated place between the Gettysburg Battlefield and the Mason-Dixon Line at the intersection of Rock Creek and Pennsylvania Route 134. North of the creek on the road summit is the principal facility of the rural community: the 1939 community hall at the fire station...
, PA 134 crosses the Rock Creek into Cumberland Township
Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland Township is a township in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,718 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
. At this point, the route turns north and reaches an interchange with the US 15
U.S. Route 15 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 15 is a north-south U.S. Highway in Pennsylvania.-Route description:US 15 enters Pennsylvania south of Gettysburg, Adams County. The route heads to the north toward Harrisburg. It joins with U.S. 11 going along the west shore of the Susquehanna River until they split across the river...
freeway. Past this interchange, the road enters the grounds of Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park
The Gettysburg National Military Park is an administrative unit of the National Park Service's northeast region and a subunit of federal properties of Adams County, Pennsylvania, with the same name, including the Gettysburg National Cemetery...
and passes through the community of Round Top
Round Top, Pennsylvania
Round Top, Pennsylvania, is a populated place near Little Round Top that is notable for 2 Battle of Gettysburg field hospitals, the 1884 Round Top Station, and several battlefield commemorative era attractions for tourists...
. Continuing through more of the park, the route runs to the west of Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Evergreen Cemetery is a privately-owned rural cemetery near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with 5 notable interments: John L. Burns , Steve Courson , Marianne Moore , Eddie Plank , and Oscar Shaw...
. PA 134 enters Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
and ends at US 15 Business near Gettysburg National Cemetery
Gettysburg National Cemetery
The Gettysburg National Cemetery is located on Cemetery Hill in the Gettysburg Battlefield near the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and adjacent to Evergreen Cemetery to the south...
.
History
In 1808, the county court approved a petition for a road from Gettysburg past Black's MillBarlow, Pennsylvania
Barlow, Pennsylvania is a populated place between the Gettysburg Battlefield and the Mason-Dixon Line at the intersection of Rock Creek and Pennsylvania Route 134. North of the creek on the road summit is the principal facility of the rural community: the 1939 community hall at the fire station...
on Rock Creek to the road from "Routsough's Mill to Tawney Town", Maryland
Taneytown, Maryland
Taneytown is a city in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,128 at the 2000 census. was founded in 1754. Of the town George Washington once wrote "Tan-nee town is but a small place with only the Street through wch. the road passes, built on...
. In 1841, the first bridge of two 60 feet (18.3 m) covered spans was built on the creek downstream of the Black's Mill dam, and the bridge and a downstream ford were used by Union troops during the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. From 1894 to 1916, the Gettysburg Electric Railway
Gettysburg Electric Railway
The Gettysburg Electric Railway was a borough trolley that provided summer access to Gettysburg Battlefield visitor attractions such as military engagement areas, monuments, postbellum camps, and recreation areas...
operated over 800 feet (243.8 m) of the road on the south slope of Cemetery Hill
Cemetery Hill
Cemetery Hill is a Gettysburg Battlefield landform which had 1863 military engagements each day of the July 1–3 Battle of Gettysburg. The northernmost part of the Army of the Potomac defensive "fish-hook" line, the hill is gently sloped and provided a site for American Civil War artillery...
. Just to the south of the tracks in , a battlefield "avenue tablet" was placed to identify the road. After part of the "Taneytown and Gettysburg Road" near the Gettysburg Battlefield
Gettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
was ceded to the United States Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
in 1905 following Congressional authorization, 2443 feet (744.6 m) from the borough line to beyond Meade's headquarters was "reconstructed on the Telford system" (graded and "piked") to a width of 16 feet (4.9 m). A west gate for the Gettysburg National Cemetery
Gettysburg National Cemetery
The Gettysburg National Cemetery is located on Cemetery Hill in the Gettysburg Battlefield near the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and adjacent to Evergreen Cemetery to the south...
was built on Taneytown Road at Cemetery Hill
Cemetery Hill
Cemetery Hill is a Gettysburg Battlefield landform which had 1863 military engagements each day of the July 1–3 Battle of Gettysburg. The northernmost part of the Army of the Potomac defensive "fish-hook" line, the hill is gently sloped and provided a site for American Civil War artillery...
, followed by the nearby entrance gate to the Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park
The Gettysburg National Military Park is an administrative unit of the National Park Service's northeast region and a subunit of federal properties of Adams County, Pennsylvania, with the same name, including the Gettysburg National Cemetery...
designed by Emmor Cope
Emmor Cope
Emmor Cope was an American Civil War officer of the Union Army noted for the "Map of the Battlefield of Gettysburg from the original survey made August to October, 1863" which he researched by horseback as a Sergeant after being ordered back to Gettysburg by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade...
for Grand Central Avenue's north end on the Taneytown Road's west side. In 1915, the portion of the road from Steinwehr Avenue to the United States arsenal was macadam
Macadam
Macadam is a type of road construction pioneered by the Scotsman John Loudon McAdam in around 1820. The method simplified what had been considered state-of-the-art at that point...
ized. By 1930, PA 134 was assigned to its current alignment between the Maryland border and US 15 (now US 15 Business), with the section south of Round Top under construction. The section under construction was completed by 1940.