There are many historical places in Pennsylvania that offer an eye-opening perspective on the country’s history. Some of these spots include the place where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Liberty Bell.
The Washington Crossing Park in southwestern Pennsylvania preserves the spot where George Washington crossed his troops during the Revolutionary War. The area also features restored Colonial buildings, a village general store and historic collections.
Fort Pitt Block House
Built in 1764, this brick outbuilding is the only remaining component of a key British fortification during the French and Indian War (or Seven Years’ War). The Block House was just one defense redoubt within Fort Pitt but the second-largest on the entire frontier.
Wooden gun loopholes wrap around the two-story structure’s pentagonal shape. The soldiers defending the fort would have had a clear view of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers and the Ohio River at their confluence, looking for Native American Indian attacks.
The fort remained in use until the late 1800s when Mary Schenley deeded it to the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The women worked to save the building in a time when suffrage was denied and political activism was considered “unladylike.” They successfully battled a powerful group of industrialists, including Henry Clay Frick and the Pennsylvania Railroad, to keep the historic site from being destroyed to make way for warehouses.
Fort Fayette
A visit to the Fort Fayette gives you a chance to walk in history. This comparatively unknown stockade fort was built in 1792 at the request of General Anthony Wayne to protect the Pittsburgh area from Indian attacks. It also served as the headquarters for his Legion, which fought to end the Northwest Indian War.
During this time, the Jackson Iron Company employed thousands of people here. Tradesmen and supervisors lived in frame houses, while laborers and their families resided in rustic log cabins. Today, 11 of the town’s original buildings house museum exhibits. You can tour a hotel, company office, machine shop, school classroom and several still-standing residences.
You can also walk along the Slag Beach, which once served as the town’s garbage dump. Here you can see the furnace waste (a glass-like slag and cinder mixed with iron) strewn across the shore.
Carrie Furnaces
Located southeast of Pittsburgh near Braddock and Rankin, the Carrie Furnaces is the only pre-World War II blast furnace (a large structure in which iron ore is heated so that it melts and pure metal can be separated from other materials) in the country. It’s also a national landmark and a fascinating piece of Pittsburgh history. Tours are available through Rivers of Steel, a nonprofit that seeks to strengthen the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania.
Rivers of Steel’s director of historic resources and facilities, Ron Baraff, said the number one question they get asked is who the furnace was named after. After scouring newspapers, he was able to discover the answer: It was named after a member of the Fownes family, who worked at the plant with her husband and son. Their contributions rocketed Pittsburgh into the steel-making capital of the world, a legacy it still proudly carries today. The Carrie Furnaces was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Shanksville Memorial
Pennsylvania has a rich history that spans more than 250 years. Whether it’s learning about the country’s past from famous PA leaders, getting up close to historic battlegrounds or exploring the natural beauty of our state, there are plenty of ways to discover the stories that make Pennsylvania so special.
The borough of Shanksville sits on the Stonycreek River in the Laurel Highlands and is best known as the site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in 2001. The memorial honors the passengers and crew who resisted the hijackers and sacrificed their lives in a heroic attempt to stop the terrorist attacks on America.
The 1719 Ephrata Cloister is the oldest and pristinely preserved religious community of celibate Brothers and Sisters living in America. The museum also displays early colonial art, furniture and tools. Visitors can tour the facility and attend lectures and events.
