Abandoned Lock No. 19

This decaying structure once held the powerhouse for old Lock No. 19. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

The generator room of old Lock No. 19 has been decorated by aspiring artists! rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Most of the equipment was removed decades ago, but this riveted steel tank remains. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A wintry view of the Ohio River from the generator room of the powerhouse of old Lock and Dam No. 19. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

The massive turret of the power house which has living quarters downstairs and equipment upstairs. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Chimney and boiler duct close up. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

These large wooden beams are called wickets. Old Lock No. 19 used wickets such as these to control river depth for navigation purposes. They could be raised of lowered by a special hook and crane system mounted to a boat. Beginning in the 1950's wicket dams were replaced with concrete dams. Only two wicket dams remain on the Ohio River today. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

This old tank was probably used for water storage. It is held together with rivets. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

The cavernous interior of the abandoned powerhouse now serves as a home for wildlife. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

The ancient chimney of the power house is shedding bricks. Caution is advised! rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Riveted roof truss system still works. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A large circular driveway provides access to old Lock No. 19. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

One home was for the lockmaster and family, the other one was for the workers. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

This old cemetery is located directly behind one of the old lock houses of Lock No. 19. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

The grave of a child that lived for only 30 days. The nearby fence is now a part of the tree. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

There are abandoned power houses up and down the Ohio River. This one is at old Lock No. 25. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A few of the decommissioned Lock and Dam facilities on the Ohio River has been repurposed as museums and educational structures. Old Lock 34 is just upriver from Cincinnati. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Taken by Nikita Bando (May 2024) TheBandoCouple (Atlas Obscura User)

The old Lock No. 19 facility is a uniquely designed and impressive piece of infrastructure. Built in 1916, the long-abandoned complex has withstood multiple floods and years of neglect.

The construction of Lock No. 19 was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1910. A system of 51 wicket dams and their locks were created from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Cairo, Illinois, achieving a consistent water depth of nine feet along the Ohio River so that boats could navigate the waterway year-round. Lock No. 19 included a powerhouse to provide electricity to the lock gates and two homes that housed the operating staff, at a time when large areas of rural America lacked electricity.

Beginning in the mid-1950s, a modern system of larger locks and dams was built to replace the originals. New lock and dam construction reached its peak during the 1960s and into the mid-’70s. The process was completed in 2018 when the Olmsted Locks and Dam entered service near Paducah, Kentucky. The old Lock No. 19 was replaced in 1968 and left abandoned. Its decaying remains can still be seen today, one of the few surviving early Ohio River locks that is accessible to the public.

Know Before You Go

This site is easily accessed by using West Virginia State Route 892, or DuPont Road as it is called by the locals. Just turn onto Northwest Drive and follow it approximately one mile to the river. A public boat ramp is part of the old Lock No. 19 grounds. The power house is open and there is no fence around it. A large circular driveway is next to the crumbling structure. Hiking boots are a must. Stay clear of the cracked chimney! The two brick lock houses on the hill overlooking the abandoned power house are privately owned. The cemetery behind the lock houses is open to the public.