Gunnison Tunnel
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| Gunnison Tunnel | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Nearest city: | Montrose, Colorado |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Added to NRHP: | 1979-07-22 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 79000616 |
The Gunnison Tunnel is a 5.8 mile (9.3 km) irrigation tunnel constructed between 1905 and 1909. At the time of its completion, it was the longest irrigation tunnel in the world. The tunnel diverts water from the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to the arid Uncompahgre Valley around Montrose, Colorado.
The tunnel opened in 1909 to much fanfare and dedication ceremony attended by President William Howard Taft.
In 1972, the tunnel was designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
