If you’re looking for the 7 man-made wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands, you’re in the right place!
While the PA Laurel Highlands region is world-renowned for its natural beauty, it’s also home to some amazing bridges, tunnels, homes, and other iconic man-made structures.
As a native of the PA Laurel Highlands myself, I’ve had a lifetime to come up with MY OWN list of what I consider the 7 man-made regional wonders, and I’ll share those with you below.
Simply click on the blue text links to view a more in-depth article about each attraction, including directions and additional photos.
And if YOUR favorite man-made structure in the PA Laurel Highlands isn’t on the list, feel free to mention it in the comments section at the end of the article.
1. Fallingwater
Fallingwater is an obvious choice for one of the 7 man-made wonders in the PA Laurel Highlands.
In 1991, an American Institute of Architects poll voted it “the best all-time work of American architecture”.
In 2019, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee added Fallingwater to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
So with a list of accolades a mile long, it’s no wonder Fallingwater is one of the 7 man-made wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands!
2. The Jumonville Cross
The Jumonville Cross is the tallest cross in Pennsylvania, earning it a spot on my list of the 7 man-made wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands.
This 60 foot-tall steel monument stands perched high atop Dunbar’s Knob, which itself stands 2,480 feet above sea level.
Since 1950, this iconic symbol has been attracting the faithful and the curious to Jumonville, just outside Uniontown.
Not only is the Jumonville Cross itself inspiring, but the views from its base are spectacular!
3. The Ohiopyle High Bridge
The Ohiopyle High Bridge towers 115 feet above the Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle State Park.
Completed in 1912, the Ohiopyle High Bridge stretches 663 feet across the river valley below.
The Ohiopyle High Bridge originally carried freight trains for the Western Maryland Railroad between Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Besides being an impressive structure, the Ohiopyle High Bridge offers up some of the finest river views along the Great Allegheny Passage, the rail trail which now crosses over it.
4. The Big Savage Tunnel
The Big Savage Tunnel is yet another remnant of the Western Maryland Railroad which earns a spot on my 7 man-made wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands list.
The 3,294 foot long tunnel was a critical link in that rail line, until the entire line was abandoned in 1975.
The tunnel fell into a state of disrepair until the late 1990s when the Allegheny Trail Alliance stepped in to restore the tunnel as part of a greater rails-to-trails initiative.
Today the historic Big Savage Tunnel is located near mile marker 23 along what is now the Great Allegheny Passage hiking/biking trail in Somerset County.
5. Kentuck Knob
Kentuck Knob in Fayette County is the second Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home to make my list of the 7 man-made wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands, built in 1954 for Isaac and Bernardine Hagan, founders of the Hagan Ice Cream company in nearby Uniontown, PA.
The Hagan House at Kentuck Knob is an example of what Wright called a Usonian home, his concept of what an affordable American home for the masses should look like.
Construction characteristics of Usonian homes included using native materials, flat roofs with cantilevered overhangs, lots of natural lighting, and radiant floor heating.
In the case of the Hagan House at Kentuck Knob, construction materials included sandstone which was quarried on-site, Tidewater Cypress wood, and copper for the roof.
Today, visitors are permitted to tour the Hagan House and Kentuck Knob grounds 10 months out of the year (closed January and February).
6. The Salisbury Viaduct
The Salisbury Viaduct is just one of the many engineering marvels along the 150 mile-long Great Allegheny Passage, the longest multi-use rail trail in Pennsylvania.
Visited by thousands of hikers, bikers, sightseers, and photographers every year, the Salisbury Viaduct continues to impress people nearly 110 years after it was first built, earning itself a spot on my list of the 7 man-made wonders in the PA Laurel Highlands.
Standing 101 feet above the Casselman River, and spanning 1,908 feet across the valley, the Salisbury Viaduct also ranks as one of my favorite sunset spots in the Laurel Highlands.
CSX Transportation still operates freight cars on the tracks below the Salisbury Viaduct, making it a popular destination for railfans.
7. The Pack Saddle Bridge
The Pack Saddle Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge in Pennsylvania built directly over a waterfall, earning it the final spot on my list of the 7 man-made wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands.
So while it may not be the longest, the oldest, or the most intricate covered bridge in PA, it is certainly a contender for the most photogenic!
The Pack Saddle Covered Bridge is a popular spot for fishermen to congregate during trout season, and is also a fabulous fall foliage destination in the PA Laurel Highlands.
The Pack Saddle Covered Bridge is still open to vehicular traffic, and has been refurbished several times since it was originally built in 1870.
So there you have it – my choices for the 7 man-made wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands!
Have a suggestion for an addition to the list?
Feel free to leave it in the comments section below!
Related Articles
The 14 Best Scenic Overlooks in the Laurel Highlands is your guide to some of those gorgeous overlooks the region is famous for.
24 Must-See Waterfalls in the PA Laurel Highlands is my hand-picked list of the best waterfalls in the region, complete with directions to each one.
22 Fabulous Fall Foliage Destinations in the Laurel Highlands of PA is your guide to what USA Today ranked the #3 place in the entire United States to view fall foliage.
10 Must-See Winter Attractions in the PA Laurel Highlands is your guide to some of the best winter sights in one of the SNOWIEST places in PA!
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