A century of the “best idea”
National Park Service turns 100 years old as park visitation soars and new challenges abound.
The National Park Service at 100: Our series overview
National Park Service sites in Pennsylvania include a broad spectrum of special places, some better known than others.
Interactive Map
Historic Landmarks
Wheeling National Heritage Area
Wheeling’s National Heritage Area celebrates Civil War history, West Virginia’s “illegal” statehood and a diverse, quirky industrial legacy.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Visitors say the partially restored factory center in southeastern Pennsylvania offers a fascinating story they never read in history books.
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
This Polish abolitionist never made it into American school history books, but he made significant contributions to America’s freedom.
Oil Region National Heritage Area: Birthplace of the oil industry
The Oil Region National Heritage Area offers lots of history, as well as extensive hiking, biking, equestrian trails and water sports.
Fort Necessity National Battlefield: A living, evolving lab for historical research and interpretation
“The Great Meadows,” site of the first battle of the French and Indian War, is being restored to look more like it did in 1754.
Independence National Historical Park: More than just a cracked bell
The birthplace of American laws and way of life offers a complex of free sights for tourists visiting Philadelphia.
Parks
Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Turning back the clock in the Cuyahoga Valley
Where a river caught fire 50 years ago, Cuyahoga Valley is a pastoral patch of wilderness abutting Northeastern Ohio’s urban sprawl.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area: Home to humans since the start of the Holocene
The scenic river valley that spans parts of eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey has been occupied by humans for 13,000 years.
Gettysburg National Military Park: Little known stories of courage
The battle served as a turning point in the Civil War, but the town’s civilians, farmers played a crucial role on both battlefield and beyond.
Trails
The North Country National Scenic Trail: A 4,600-mile walk through America’s ‘Red Plaid Nation’
Local lumberjacks and other volunteers are helping to create the nation’s longest hiking trail, which curves through Western Pennsylvania.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Hikers chasing spring
Local communities grow more comfortable with having the Appalachian Trail as a neighbor.
Extras
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area sidebar: New vessel to connect visitors to the Mon
Rivers of Steel will gain river access this fall with the takeover and operation of 90-foot-long Voyager tour boat.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail sidebar: Bad behavior
”A Walk in the Woods” film boosts popularity of the Appalachian Trail, but causes problems too due to users unfamiliar with trail ethics.
Gettysburg National Military Park sidebar: ‘Their contributions, though rarely noted or honored…’
Taking care of the dead, wounded and grisly aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg mostly fell to civilians who lived through the carnage.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial sidebar: An amazing tale of survival
Amid the big wave of death, an amazing tale of survival in Johnstown and beyond.