06/06/2026
Hamilton Hidden History: The Railroad Arches
Most people drive under them without a second thought (except to rev an engine 🙄), but Hamilton’s iconic railroad arches have been standing since 1855.
Built from stone to carry trains up Rossville Hill, the 17-arch viaduct was engineered by John S. Earhart and stretches 665 feet across the city’s west side. The arches are actually older than the steel railroad bridge over the Great Miami River and have carried rail traffic for more than 170 years.
The structure was so influential that it gave Arch Street its name and remains one of the oldest pieces of working transportation infrastructure in Butler County.
Next time you pass under the arches on South B Street, look up—you’ll be looking at a piece of Hamilton history that predates the Civil War. 🚂🏛️
Butler County Visitors Bureau Butler County Historical Society
