Lock and Dam 47 was part of a series of 51 locks and dams constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain a nine-foot navigation channel on the Ohio River.
The original facility utilized a wicket-type dam, which could be lowered during high-water stages to allow boats to pass without using the lock chamber.
The site was decommissioned in 1968 upon the completion of the modern, larger Newburgh Lock and Dam.
The preserved lock wall remnants serve as a physical record of pre-modernized river commerce infrastructure in the Ohio Valley.
The Newburgh Old Lock and Dam is a historic site situated along the Ohio River featuring remnants of the Lock and Dam 47 infrastructure, which operated from 1928 until its decommissioning in the 1960s. The site serves as a riverfront park offering expansive views of the Ohio River and the modern Newburgh Lock and Dam located downstream. It functions as a popular trailhead for the Newburgh Riverfront Trail, which connects to the town's historic downtown district. The area features preserved concrete lock walls and signage detailing the engineering significance of the original navigable waterway system. Visitors can observe commercial barge traffic navigating the river channel adjacent to the park grounds.
From the elevated observation deck near the start of the riverfront trail, which provides a wide-angle view of the historic lock wall and the river horizon.
Bring binoculars to get a better look at commercial barge traffic and local bird species along the riverbank.
Combine your visit with a walk or bike ride along the adjacent paved riverfront trail.
Check the local weather forecast, as the open riverfront can be significantly windier than the inland town areas.
Do not attempt to access the water near the lock remnants, as the current and structural concrete pose significant drowning and injury hazards.
Stay within marked pathways and refrain from climbing on historic concrete walls for safety and preservation reasons.
