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Meanwhile, the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania brought African American women from the south and students from India, Japan and Syria. During the late 1800s, Philadelphia was the leader in industrial production, especially in manufacturing. The city was the world’s largest and most varied manufacturer of textile weaving including Weavers at the Quaker Lace Company, the Pennsylvania Woven Carpet Mills and the New Glen Echo Mills. The Cramp Shipyards, a producer of passenger steamships and warships, also helped pave the way for the state’s industrial profile.
In the southeastern part of the state is a section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, a narrow strip of sandy low-lying land immediately adjacent to the Delaware River. It was the site of William Penn’s settlement and the initial city of Philadelphia. Immediately inland from the Coastal Plain is the Piedmont province, a gently rolling, well-drained plain that is rarely more than 500 feet (150 meters) above sea level; the eastern part is the Piedmont Upland. The boundary between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain is known as the fall line, with hard rock to the west and soft rock to the east. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought there, the Northern army on the high ridges having the advantage over the Southern forces on the plains.
The museum highlights the successful Hollywood career of the It’s a Wonderful Life movie star as it showcases collections of vintage movie posters, movie costumes, props, military uniforms, awards, personal items, and memorabilia of Stewart. Stop by the gift shop and or attend a film showing at the Reschini Group Movie Theater, a vintage 50-seat theater within the museum. Designated as a National Historic Landmark District, Cornwall Iron Furnace is one of America’s only remaining charcoal-fueled ironmaking sites. Peter Grubb originally built the five-acre site in 1742, and many unique artifacts remain on display. Visitors can tour the complex on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and explore the rambling Gothic Revival buildings where cannons, stoves, and pig irons were once cast and used nationwide. Admire and listen to the beauty of this unique 123-acre park as you strike the boulders and hear them ring.
The facilities have been restored and converted into a museum and retreat space celebrating the remarkable legacy of Muhammad Ali. Feel the sand between your toes and take in the impeccable views of Lake Erie at Presque Isle State Park. The 3,200-acre peninsula is home to 11 beaches with some of the state’s most picturesque sunsets. Beyond the beach, you can visit this Great Lake year-round with plenty of hiking, picnicking, boating, and fishing. Voted one of the top birding spots in the country by BirdWatching magazine, be sure to bring your best binoculars to spot the park’s unique wildlife. Home to one of the most famous and historical American battlefields, the town of Gettysburg is known to house some of the most historical attractions in the country.
Despite a seemingly peaceful transition of land, after multiple battles and failed attempts to live harmoniously, many of Pennsylvania’s Native Americans gradually left and migrated west. One of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a haven for his fellow Quakers. Pennsylvania’s capital, Philadelphia, was the site of the first and second Continental Congresses in 1774 and 1775, the latter of which produced the Declaration of Independence, sparking the American Revolution.
In the central part of the state is the Susquehanna, draining the largest section of the state; it is a wide, shallow stream that meanders finally into Maryland and Chesapeake Bay. In the west is the Ohio River—formed by the confluence of the Allegheny (north) and Monongahela (south) rivers at Pittsburgh—from where it flows westward to the Mississippi River. Minor systems lead into Lake Erie in the northwest and the Potomac River from the southwest. On March 28, 1979, the Three Mile Island accident was the most significant nuclear accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history.7172 The state was hard-hit by the decline and restructuring of the steel industry and other heavy industries during the late 20th century. With job losses came heavy population losses, especially in the state’s largest cities.
Witness the “Amish way of life,” stepping back in time and enjoying a slower, more peaceful pace of daily activities. From personalized tours with Amish families to buggy rides through picturesque farmland to shopping for hand-made products at local roadside stores and chowing down on authentic PA Dutch cooking, you’ll be sure to get the full Amish experience in Lancaster. Did you know America’s largest free-admission amusement park is right here in PA? Fueling the industry at this time relied heavily on Pennsylvania’s natural resources.
Located in Huntingdon County, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view from the top after climbing the jagged and steep steps. We asked some of our most trusted PA travelers exactly which must-visit places they recommend for everyone’s #PABucketList. Each one makes a great getaway either on its own or could be part of a longer, multi-destination PA road trip. Get fascinating history stories twice a week that connect the past with today’s world, plus an in-depth exploration every Friday. Milton ended his formal education in 1871 and worked with a printer before starting an apprenticeship with Joseph R. Royer, a confectioner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After learning the trade, Milton opened his first business making and selling candy on Garden Street in Philadelphia in 1876.
Experience the magic and history of baseball and softball, from their humble beginnings in Williamsport to their global impact today. Discover the passion, dedication, and joy that define Little League at the museum, and be sure to catch the action at the tournament happening every August in Williamsport. Famously known as the world’s first refuge for birds of prey, Hawk Mountain is a 2,600-acre wildlife sanctuary in southeastern Pennsylvania. Each year, visitors from throughout the country flock to the mountain to take in the spectacular views from the scenic overlooks. However, the sanctuary’s main draw is up-close bald eagle sightings as they soar above, starting in mid-August and signaling the beginning of the Autumn Migration Hawkwatch that runs through December 15.
The Treaty of Breda between England, France, and the Netherlands confirmed the English conquest on July 21, 1667,2829 although there were temporary reversions. For many Pennsylvanians, the period following these conflicts marked growing dissatisfaction with British rule. Limitations on westward expansion, especially as established by proclamation in 1763, were imposed to pacify the Indians, but Pennsylvanians pressed westward over the Allegheny Mountains. Outposts such as Fort Pitt (Fort Duquesne under the French; now Pittsburgh) became settlements vital to the flow of trade from the opening lands to the west.
Journey back to where it all began and learn about the nation’s founding with a visit to Independence National Historical Park. Here you can tour the country’s most notable and historical locations, including the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, and the Betsy Ross House, all within walking distance. Any reputable Pennsylvania bucket list must include a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. This UNESCO World Heritage Site and PA treasure has been named one of the 12 landmarks that will change the way you see the world by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Other notable companies include Just Born in Bethlehem, makers of Hot Tamales, Mike and Ikes, the Easter favorite marshmallow Peeps, and Boyer Brothers of Altoona, which manufacturers Mallo Cups. Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, based in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, specializes in potato bread, another traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food. Yuengling & Son, America’s oldest brewery, has been brewing beer in Pottsville since 1829. All but 20 miles (32 km) of I-476 is the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The landforms of Pennsylvania had their origin about 500 million years ago, when a vast interior sea, up to several hundred miles wide, occupied the area from New England to Alabama. For about 250 million years, the rivers originating from an extensive mountain chain on the east pennsylvania childrens health insurance program poured sediments into the great Appalachian downwarp basin. Great swamps prevailed in southwestern Pennsylvania for millions of years and provided the vegetation that ultimately became the coal beds of the area.
Pennsylvania is considered one of the finest wild turkey hunting states in the nation, alongside Texas and Alabama. A report from The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, reported that hunting, fishing, and furtaking generated a total of $9.6 billion statewide. Since the latter half of the 20th century, Pennsylvania has been perceived as a powerful swing state, and winning Pennsylvania has since been deemed as essential to U.S. presidential candidates. Only thrice between 1932 and 1988 (1932, 1948, and 1968, with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Richard Nixon, respectively) has a presidential candidate been able to win the White House while losing Pennsylvania.
The Delaware Water Gap, on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, was formed as the Delaware River carved a deep path through a ridge of the Appalachian Mountains on its way to the sea. In motorsports, the Mario Andretti dynasty of race drivers hails from Nazareth in the Lehigh Valley. Pennsylvania racetracks include Jennerstown Speedway in Jennerstown, Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, and Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, which is home to two NASCAR Cup Series races and an IndyCar Series race. The state is also home to Maple Grove Raceway, near Reading, which hosts major National Hot Rod Association-sanctioned drag racing events each year. In professional golf, Arnold Palmer, one of the 20th century’s most accomplished professional golfers, comes from Latrobe, and Jim Furyk, a current PGA player grew up near in Lancaster.
