Learning Local History at Beaver County’s Vicary Mansion
I’ve been to many historical society museums in Pennsylvania, but none have been quite like the Captain William Vicary Mansion in Beaver County. That’s because, instead of providing a simple …
History
Uncovering the History of Logging at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum
Pennsylvania literally translates to “Penn’s Woods,” a fact which is likely unsurprising to anyone that’s traveled through Pennsylvania’s northern tier. Looking out over the landscape, trees stretch as far as …
Visiting the Six Graves of Baseball Hall of Famers Buried in Pittsburgh
Baseball has a rich history in Pittsburgh, with professional baseball in the city dating back to 1876. However, it wasn’t until 1887 that the team joined the National League as …
Visiting the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia
The litany of famous Americans who spent time in Philadelphia is well known. However, few know that one of America’s most famous authors spent a significant portion of his adult life …
Touring the Armstrong County Historical Museum in Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Located on a small knoll on the outskirts of Kittanning is one of Armstrong County’s most historic homes. Built in the 1840s, this building, known today as the McCain House, …
Visiting the Very Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia
There are several famous cemeteries in Philadelphia (Christ Church Cemetery and Mount Moriah to name two). However, the most well-known graveyard in the city might be Laurel Hill Cemetery. Founded …
Learning Mining History at the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in Scranton
During my travels around Pennsylvania and the world, I’ve been down in my fair share of caverns. However, until recently, I had never been into a mine. Given Pennsylvania’s rich mining …
Touring the Once-Abandoned Carrie Furnace in Pittsburgh
As I walked away from Carrie Furnace, having spent the previous two hours touring this relic of Pittsburgh’s steel industry, I knew I had just been somewhere special. Without a …
Visiting the Many Impressive Museums of the Little Beaver Historical Society
I’ve visited a lot of historical societies all over Pennsylvania. Most of these have been ones tasked with covering the entire county and located inside a grand building in the …
Exploring Fireworks, China, and the Underground Railroad at the Lawrence County Historical Society Museum
There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania, and I had visited 66 of them by the time I rolled into Lawrence County for the first time. After a morning exploring the …