Throughout my four years traveling PA, I’ve visited hundreds of amazing places and learned many amazing facts about Pennsylvania. I’ve compiled my favorite Pennsylvania facts below. While you might know some of them, I bet you’ll learn something new.
Here are some of the most interesting Pennsylvania facts you’ll find on the internet.
William Penn was given the land that would become Pennsylvania by King Charles II in 1681 to satisfy a debt the king had with Penn’s father.
Pennsylvania is not named after William Penn…at least not the one you think it was. It is named after his father (who was also named William Penn).
From 1894-1908, Philadelphia City Hall was the tallest habitable building in the world (at 548 feet in height). It is taller and has more rooms than the U.S. Capitol.
Potter County, Pennsylvania, is home to the only Triple Continental Divide east of the Mississippi. At this spot, water flows into the Gulf of Mexico (through the Allegheny River), the Chesapeake Bay (through Pine Creek), and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (through the Genesee River).
The smiley face emoticon was invented in Pittsburgh by Carnegie Mellon University Professor Scott Fahlman on September 19, 1982.
The only time George Washington surrendered his army was when he was a 22-year-old colonel working under the orders of the British Army. His battle and surrender marked the first battle of the French and Indian War.
The Tunkhannock Viaduct in Nicholson, PA, was the largest concrete structure in the world when it was completed in 1915.
The polio vaccine was created in Pittsburgh in 1955. Children in the city were the first to be given the new vaccine.
Erie, Pennsylvania, was the snowiest city in the United States (with a population over 100,000) during the 2013-2014 winter. They city received 138.4 inches of snow.
When it opened in 1882, the Kinzua Bridge in McKean County, Pennsylvania, was the longest and tallest railroad bridge in the world.
In 1943, the Steelers and Eagles formed a combined team because neither could field a full team due to World War II. The team was called the Steagles and they finished with a winning record, something the Eagles had yet to achieve.
The highest point in PA (Mount Davis at 3,213 feet) is at a lower elevation than the lowest point in the entire state of Colorado (3,315 feet).
The Big Mac was invented by Jim Delligatti, who owned several McDonald’s restaurants near Pittsburgh. It was first served in Uniontown in 1967, and there is even a Big Mac Museum that you can visit.
Frontiersman Daniel Boone was born in what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania. His home is open for tours.
Baseball Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Ken Griffey, Jr. were both born in Donora, Pennsylvania, on September 21 (though separated by 49 years). Stan Musial played on a high school basketball team with Griffey’s grandfather.
The Jeep was invented by the Bantam Car Company in Butler, PA. However, the U.S. military didn’t think they could produce enough models and gave the plans to Ford.
The world’s first purposefully dug oil well was dug by Colonel Edwin Drake in 1859 near Titusville, Pennsylvania.
Here’s another surprising fact about Pennsylvania’s oil industry. In 1881, Pennsylvania produced more than 75% of the world’s oil.
There is only one town in Pennsylvania: Bloomsburg. Everywhere else is either a city, borough, or township.
One of four surviving Apollo command module boilerplates still in existence once sat in front of a Dairy Queen in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Sadly, it was moved in late 2018.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Washington County, Pennsylvania, is the oldest-known site of human habitation in North America dating back 16,000 years.
Until the early 1800s, the largest shipping port in North America was in Philadelphia.
The only piece of Abraham Lincoln’s tomb that was ever removed sits at the base of the Civil War Memorial in Lewistown, PA. It was given to the community in honor of the Logan Guard, which were the first soldiers to volunteer to fight in the Civil War.
The first complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever found is on display at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh.
Half of America’s mushrooms are grown in and around Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Hugh J. Ward invented Bingo in Pittsburgh in the early 1920s. He originally called the game Beano and used beans as markers.
Leap the Dips at Altoona’s Lakemont Park is the oldest, still-operating roller coaster in the world. It first ran in 1902.
The Warner Brothers got their start leasing the Cascade Theater in New Castle from 1906-1907. They borrowed chairs from the nearby funeral home but had to return them (and thus were not able to show films) when someone died.
The song “Winter Wonderland” was written about Central Park in Honesdale, PA by native Dick Smith.
The Foxburg Country Club in Clarion County is the oldest, continually-used golf course in the United States. It first opened in 1887.
Things created by Benjamin Franklin and first tried in Philadelphia: the postal service, libraries, zoos, and lightning rods.
The first European settlers in Pennsylvania were from Sweden. Their settlement, Fort Nya Gothenburg, started in 1643 on Tinicum Island near Philadelphia International Airport.
The Byler Amish in the Big Valley of Mifflin County use yellow-topped buggies. This is in stark contrast to the black and grey buggies that are more commonly used, as well as the plain image that the Amish maintain.
The Fair Play Men were illegal squatters along the West Bank of the Susquehanna near Jersey Shore, PA, from 1773 to 1785. Without knowledge of the events in Philadelphia, they declared their own independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776.
Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia had indoor plumbing before the White House did.
There are 19 Baseball Hall of Famers buried in Pennsylvania. Only California (20) has more. This number includes two of the first five men inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Pittsburgh area was the childhood home of six Hall of Fame quarterbacks: Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas, and George Blanda.
Writer Charles Dickens traveled from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh along the Main Line Canal in 1842. He wrote about his journey in his book, “American Notes.”
Crayola Crayons makes all of its products in Pennsylvania. They produce nearly three billion crayons each year, enough to encircle the globe six times.
The Wanamaker Organ is the largest, still-operational pipe organ in the world. It is located inside a Macy’s Department Store in Center City Philadelphia. Free concerts are offered six days a week.
The first drive-in gas station was a Gulf Station that opened in Pittsburgh in 1913.
C.F. Martin Guitars Company in Nazareth is the world’s oldest guitar manufacturer. They have been making their guitars in this Lehigh Valley community since 1833.
The world’s first computer, ENIAC, was built and used at the University of Pennsylvania. It was dedicated on February 15, 1946 and weighed 28 tons.
The Losh Run Box Huckleberry in Perry County is estimated to be 13,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living organisms in the world. It was cut in half and nearly killed by the widening of Route 322 in the 1970s.
Ricketts Glen State Park was on track to become a National Park in the 1930s until World War II diverted funds. It was instead made a state park in 1944.
The world’s first wire cable suspension bridge was built in 1816 over the Falls of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
Before he became an assassin, actor John Wilkes Booth invested a significant sum of money into an oil venture in Venango County, Pennsylvania. He lost all of his investment.
Speaking of Johns Wilkes Booth, the American flag hanging in President Lincoln’s booth during his assassination is on display at the Columns Museum in Milford. It still has Lincoln’s blood on it.
The exterior of the Harry Packer Mansion in Jim Thorpe was the inspiration for the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World. The mansion is open for events and also functions as a bed and breakfast.
Between 1834 and 1854, the time to travel from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh was cut from 20+ days to just 15 hours thanks to advances such as the Allegheny Portage Railroad and the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona.
Beaver Stadium at Penn State University is the third-largest stadium in the world. When it is full, there are more people inside the stadium than in all but three Pennsylvania cities.
The oldest transportation tunnel in the United States is the Union Canal Tunnel in Lebanon County. It was dug by hand in the 1820s, and can still be used by small boats today.
The Patriot & Union Newspaper in Harrisburg (the precursor to The Patriot-News) wrote in November 1863 that Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was “silly” and deserving “a veil of oblivion.” The paper issued a retraction in November 2013. The review was also mocked by Saturday Night Live.
George Washington’s first military mission was to deliver a message from the British to the French at Fort LeBeouf (at present-day Waterford in Erie County). The 21-year-old delivered his message, but it was ignored. Today, Waterford has the only statue of Washington in a British military uniform.
Here’s a final, but surprising fact about Pennsylvania. The world’s first commercial radio station, KDKA, began broadcasting in Pittsburgh on November 2, 1920. The first programming was announcing the presidential election results.
Want even more trivia? Check out our list of 51 Philadelphia facts that you didn’t learn in school and 41 fun facts about Pittsburgh.
Do you have a favorite Pennsylvania fact that you didn’t see on this list? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Reighard’s Gas Station in Altoona, PA is America’s Oldest Gas Station operating since 1909.
A couple more facts about Pennsylvania:
The banana split was invented by Dr. Strickler in his drug store in Latrobe, PA.
Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Arnold Palmer (pro-golfer) were from Latrobe, PA and graduated from Latrobe High School.
The Rockville bridge is the longest stone arch railroad viaduct in the world. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockville_Bridge
Titusville, Pennsylvania was the wealthiest city in the world, in the 1880’s.
Cool I live there
America’s oldest drive-in movie theater, Shankweilers Drive-in, is located in Orefield PA and has been in operation since 1934. https://www.shankweilers.com/
Johnstown,PA is were the red cross started because of great flood of 1889.
The Johnstown incline plane is the world’s steepest vehicular incline plane.
First turnpike
Cable tv was started in PA by the founder of Service Electric
Most expensive turnpike in the world
You have to update the one on Erie, PA…this past winter was the snowiest
Brookville, in Jefferson county, was the home of the Twyford, the world’s first 4-wheel drive car in 1905. Very few Twyfords were actually manufactured due to lack of financial backing. A reproduction was built by a local engineer several years ago and is on display in the Jefferson County Historical Society.
Brookville is also the home of Earle Sandt. On Feb 11, 1912, he became the pilot to successfully fly over Lake Erie and thus completed the first international flight.
Brookville’s Scripture Rock Heritage Park has won national and state awards. It features 65 of about 500 rocks and boulders with scriptures, etc meticulously hand carved into them in the early 1900s. The park is easily accessed from I-80 Exit 81. Wear sturdy shoes.
The only theater pipe organ to rise from a covered pit in the US is in Harrisville, Pennsylvania. There are two others, one in England and one in Australia. The organ is mostly Wurlitzer and is a 3/20 with water fall console. The organ is in a private home and opened to the public for concerts several times a year with world renowned organists at the console.
The highest elevation populated borough or town in Pennsylvania is Berlin, PA in Somerset County.
Buhl Farm Golf Course, formerly known as Buhland Golf Course, located in Sharon, Pennsylvania, is the only free public golf course in the United States. The 9-hole course is open from mid-April to November between 8 a.m. to sundown.
Mr. Fred Rodgers was born in Latrobe PA. Pittsburg was the location where he conducted much of his work including Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood. I believe there is a small museum and statue that pay tribute also.
Westinghouse Bridge. Was longest concrete span.
Westinghouse Research in Forest Hills split the first atom. Also mad first navy and commercial reactors.
J.C. Blair invented the paper writing tablet in Huntingdon, PA. Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) wrote a letter in 1884 thanking Blair for the invention of the tablet.
Huntingdon, PA is the hometown of Tom Hoover, “Father of the Hemi” engine; that changed NASCAR forever and powered generations of muscle cars. Mr. Hoover is an alumnus of the local Juniata College.
Lititz PA has several things. Gen. John Sutter is buried there. First commercial pretzel bakery and !invest continuous July 4th celebration.
Titusville Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the Hula Hoop
The last “fact” is highly debatable. There’s never been a bison skeleton found or any proof that they even inhabited PA.
Philadelphia Zoo is America’s first zoo
First voluntary fire company founded in Philadelphia
Need to change Philadelphia to Pennsylvania in: The world’s first computer, ENIAC, was built and used at the University of Philadelphia. It was dedicated on February 15, 1946 and weighed 28 tons.
ENIAC was at the University of Pennsylvania, which is in Philadelphia. There is no University of Philadelphia.
Williamsport PA is the home of Little League Baseball.
South Williamsport is the home of Little League Baseball.
thank you I did not know all the thing invented and started here in Pa.
Scrapple. Is a PA food
mercialization[edit]
The world’s first commercial transistor production line was at the Western Electric plant on Union Boulevard in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Stephen Foster’s song Camptown Races is about Camptown, PA
The Slinky was created in 1943 in Philadelphia by a naval engineer in the shipyards. The toy became a hit and later the wife moved production from Philly to Hollidaysburg when the creator left his family for a religious cult. In Hollidaysburg there is also a Slinky themed arcade called Slinky Action Zone.
Richard Smith from Honesdale, PA wrote the lyrics to the song “Winter Wonderland.”
Samuel L. “Roxy” Rothafel started in the theater business in Forest City, PA, and later went on create Radio City Music Hall. There is a Pennsylvania Marker on Main Street honoring him.
Also Honesdale PA is known for the Stroubridge Lion, the first steam locomotive in the U.S. The original engine is on display in the Smithsonian. There is a replica in the museum in Honesdale.
The lower Cambria Iron Works in Johnstown is the only steel mill in the US on the national register of historic places.
That’s a great spot. I’ve had a chance to go into a few of the buildings, and it’s pretty incredible.
There is a smiley face that was erected on the Summitview school in Waynesbro, Pa around 1972? I know because I made it.
The Elkland Leather Co., Elkland, PA was the home of the largest sole leather tannery in the world. The Cardiff Giant and it’s twin, The Colorado Giant were conceived and created in a barn in Elkland, PA
The call letters KDKA is the only radio station which starts with a K east of the Mississippi … all others start
with a W , west of Mississippi starts with K I think this goes for TV also
KYW is located in Philadelphia. Radio and TV
KQV is in Pittsburgh, PA
We also had station KQV in Pittsburgh.
Curwensville was home to the first sliced cheese!
First individually wrapped sliced cheese.
American Bandstand …. local Philadelphia teenagers danced on National TV with Dick Clark as their host.
Actor Jimmy Stewart was from Indiana, PA.
Me too…born in Indiana, Pa & spent summers there with relatives.
The fifteenth president of the United States, James Buchanan was from Lancaster, Pa. His home, Wheatland, still stands and is open to the public.
President Buchanan was actually born and raised in Mercersburg, Pa. I don’t think he moved to Lancaster until after he left the presidency.
He lived in Lancaster for more of his adult life when he wasn’t in Washington (or elsewhere) working for the government, but he did spend his childhood in the Mercersburg area.
The first all oron bridge in America is the Flatiron Bridge in Brownsville built in 1836.
At one time Pittsburgh was the worlds largest inland port.
The monongahela River also had more tonage shipped on it than any other waterway
Pa has its own Grand Canyon!
I was there at least a dozen times when I was a kid. Had relatives in Corning, NY which was along the way when we went to visit. Beautiful. When I saw when I was a kid, please note, I am now 84 years old.
And Statue of Liberty
Wowwwwww
The borough of Catasauqua in the Lehigh Valley is the home of the Crane Iron Works, the first technically and commercially successful anthracite iron blast furnace in the world. It was built by David Thomas, a welsh iron master, at Lock 36 on the D&L Canal. Thomas was brought here by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co, owner of the canal and anthracite mines. Its first blast on July 4, 1840 marked the beginning of the industrial revolution in America. Crane Iron remained in operation through WWI.
Pa has its own Statue of Liberty on the Susquehanna, north of Harrisburg in Dauphin
Delaware was originally created as part of Pennsylvania and has long been associated with that state, mostly because it shares the commerce and transportation of the Delaware River. This has also caused major growth in the northern part of the state, with much industry developing in and around Wilmington.
Pretzels and potato chips are made there as well.
Both Perry Como and Bobby Vinton were from Canonsburg, PA 21 miles from Pittsburgh
Mr. Yuk sticker was first used in Pittsburgh by Poison Control.
Pottery from Canonsburg,Pa. is the only pottery that can be detected by Geiger counter.
The Dorsey brothers of the “big band” era – trombonist Tommy Dorsey and saxophonist Jimmy Dorsey – are from Shenandoah.
Treasure Island was the first USA Boy Scout camp and is in the Delaware River North of Philadelphia
At one time Altoona was the railroad capital of the world and during World War II in 1943 they actually got caught in Nazi saboteurs trying to blow up horseshoe curve cuz everything for the war effort was coming through Altoona at that time
From Cameron County:
-Sylvania Electronics started in Emporium in 1924
-25 million tons of dynamite used in the building of the Panamas Canal was made in Sinnamahoning
-Emporium born, 4 star General Joseph McNarney was the military Governor of Occupied Germany for 2 years after WWII.
-the very first United States Air Force ID Card, with serial number 1A was issued to General McNarney and is housed in the County’s Little Museum.
– the plaza surrounding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is made of Pennsylvania Green Flagstone quarried in Cameron County.
I really enjoyed my visit to The Little Museum in Cameron County a few years ago. Definitely an unexpectedly great museum with some pretty amazing history.
You forgot the sweetest place on earth Hershey PA.
Public television was started in Pittsburgh by Fred Rodgers.
Beaver County:
First atomic nuclear power plant, started by President Eisenhower flipping a switch in Washington, DC
Conway Rail Yards was at one time world’s largest rail yards
In Pennsylvania, it’s illegal to sleep outdoors on a refridgerator on a Sunday.
First electrically illuminated building in the world is the Edison Hotel in Sunbury, Pa. Originally the “City Hotel,” it was lit up on July 4, 1883 by Edison. It still stands and a large plaque at the entrance commemorates the event.
The Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg, home of the late President and Mrs. Eisenhower.
You should mention Centralia’ coal mine. It’s been burning for 60 years now.
Designated as a market town in 1730, the City of Lancaster is home to Lancaster Central Market, the oldest, continuously running public farmers’ market in the country
As Sgt. SHULTZ WOULD SAY VERRY INTERESTING
Fred Waring from Tyrone pa
Meadville, PA is the birthplace of the Primary Election and the zipper
Fairmount Park in Philadelphia is 10 times larger thant Central Park in New York.