PA Historic Places Archives

A collage of four stunning historic mansions in Pennsylvania, each open for public tours. The top-left image showcases a brick castle-like mansion with arched windows and a turret. The top-right image features a grand stone estate with intricate architectural details and multiple levels. The bottom-left image highlights a Victorian-style mansion with ornate gables and a wraparound porch. The bottom-right image presents a stately stone mansion with a steep red roof and symmetrical design.

15 Pennsylvania Mansions That Host Public Tours

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - January 10, 2025 0

If you’re looking for information about historic mansions in Pennsylvania that host public tours, you’re in the right place! Pennsylvania is home to a wealth of historic mansions, built by pioneers of the coal, iron,...

A collage of four photos showcasing East Cavalry Field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a key site of the July 3, 1863, cavalry battle. The top left image features the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument, honoring the regiment's role in the battle. The top right image displays a Confederate artillery cannon with an interpretive plaque describing Stuart's Horse Artillery. The bottom left image shows an informational sign titled "A Thunderous Charge," depicting Confederate cavalry and explaining their engagement with Union forces. The bottom right image features the entrance sign for East Cavalry Field at Gettysburg National Military Park, with a tree-lined road leading into the historic battlefield.

Exploring East Cavalry Field in Gettysburg

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - January 5, 2025 0

If you're looking for information about visiting East Cavalry Field in Gettysburg, you're in the right place! East Cavalry Field was the site of a pivotal but lesser-known cavalry clash that occured on the third...

Collage highlighting the Pennsylvania origins of "Winter Wonderland," featuring a historical marker honoring lyricist Richard "Dick" Smith, a photo of Smith at the piano, his childhood home in Honesdale, and the iconic sheet music cover depicting a winter scene.

Uncovering the Pennsylvania Roots of “Winter Wonderland”

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - December 1, 2024 0

Located in the heart of Honesdale, Wayne County, lies the inspiration for one of the most beloved holiday songs of all time, Winter Wonderland. The song’s lyricist, Richard “Dick” Smith, grew up in Honesdale and...

A collage of four photos showcasing the Evans City Cemetery in Butler County, Pennsylvania, known for its role in the 1967 movie "Night of the Living Dead." The top left image shows the entrance sign for the cemetery, engraved with its name and incorporation date. The top right image captures a still from the film with two characters kneeling near a gravestone. The bottom left photo features a historical marker in downtown Evans City, commemorating the town's significance as the filming location for "Night of the Living Dead." The bottom right image presents a modern recreation of a scene from the movie, with a visitor posing near the Blair gravestone, replicating the film's iconic moment. This collage highlights the cemetery's enduring legacy as a landmark in horror cinema history.

Exploring the Evans City Cemetery in Butler County

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - October 1, 2024 0

If you're looking for information about visiting the Evans City Cemetery in Butler County, (AKA the "Night of the Living Dead Cemetery"), you're in the right place! The Evans City Cemetery holds a special place...

A collage of four photos taken at the ghost town of Pithole in Venango County, PA. The top left image shows the entrance sign to Historic Pithole City with the visitor center in the background. The top right image is a historic black-and-white photo depicting a bustling street scene with various businesses and people, including a drugstore and the Metropolitan Hotel. The bottom left image features a present-day grassy path at the intersection of First and Brown Streets, marked by a wooden signpost amidst tall vegetation. The bottom right image is a historical marker describing Pithole’s history, including details about its rapid rise to a population of 15,000 in 1865 due to the oil boom.

Exploring the Ghost Town of Pithole in Venango County

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - September 30, 2024 0

If you're looking for information about visiting the ghost town of Pithole in Venango County, you're in the right place! Pithole, a once-thriving oil boomtown, rose to prominence almost overnight in the mid-1860s and disappeared...

A collage of four images related to the Gettysburg Campaign trenches in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The top left photo shows a dirt trench winding through a forest, with trees and ferns lining the path. The top right photo is a Pennsylvania historical marker detailing the construction of the entrenchments by Colonel J.C. Higgins' militia in June 1863 to defend the Altoona railroad. The bottom left image is a portrait of Colonel Jacob Higgins, dressed in his military uniform with his cavalry hat resting on a table beside him. The bottom right photo shows a sign explaining that 1,500 militia men under Higgins constructed the entrenchments, with the threat ending after the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. The collage visually captures key elements of the historic defenses in Bedford County during the Civil War.

Exploring the Gettysburg Campaign Trenches in Bedford County

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - September 17, 2024 0

If you're looking for information about visiting the Gettysburg Campaign trenches in Bedford County, you're in the right place! The Gettysburg Campaign trenches in Bedford County are historic earthworks constructed in June 1863 by local...

A collage of four photos capturing moments from a tour of Straub Brewery in Elk County, PA. The top left image shows the inviting exterior of the Straub Brewery Visitor Center and Tap Room, a historic red-brick building with a vintage truck parked in front and signage welcoming visitors. The top right image features a tour guide passionately explaining the brewing process beside vintage copper brewing equipment, showcasing the traditional craftsmanship still alive at the brewery. The bottom left image highlights three wooden tap handles labeled Straub Light, Lager, and Amber, attached to a keg, representing the brewery’s dedication to quality and tradition in their beer offerings. The bottom right image is a historic black-and-white photograph of Anthony, Peter, and Joseph Straub, three significant figures in the brewery’s history, standing proudly with wooden beer barrels. Since 1872, Straub Brewery has been one of the oldest family-owned and operated breweries in the United States, continuing to produce German-American style lagers and traditional craft beer at its original location in St. Marys, PA.

Touring Straub Brewery in Elk County

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - August 19, 2024 0

If you're looking for information about touring Straub Brewery in Elk County, you're in the right place! The Straub Brewery tour offers a lesson in brewing history and craftsmanship at one of America's oldest family-owned...

A collage depicting various scenes from the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The top-left image shows a maroon and yellow OC&T locomotive with an engineer standing on the front, giving a friendly wave. The top-right image captures passengers on a wooden platform observing the bright yellow locomotive approaching through a lush, green landscape. The bottom-left image features passengers, including a dog, standing on a wooden platform surrounded by dense forest, waiting near a train car. The bottom-right image shows a vintage passenger car with "Oil Creek & Titusville" and "Col. Edwin L. Drake" painted on its side, highlighting the historic charm of the excursion.

Riding the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad in Crawford County

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - August 18, 2024 0

If you're looking for information about riding the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad in Crawford County, you're in the right place! Riding the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad is a scenic and historical journey through...

A collage of images showcasing various historical sites and activities during a walking tour of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, with Local Historia. The top left image shows a guide holding an old photograph for a then-and-now comparison at a street intersection. The top right image features a guide pointing to an old image of a historical site near a fence. The middle left image highlights the Bellefonte Governors Memorial, with the guide pointing out the name of Andrew Gregg Curtin. The middle right and bottom images capture different historic buildings in Bellefonte, including the Brockerhoff House, with their distinctive architecture and rich history. This collage reflects the immersive experience provided by Local Historia's guided walking tours, where history is brought to life through detailed storytelling and visual comparisons.

Exploring Bellefonte’s History with Local Historia Guided Tours

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - August 16, 2024 0

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is a town steeped in history, and there’s no better way to explore it than with Local Historia. Founded in 2019 and co-owned by public historians Matt Maris and Dustin Elder, Local Historia...

A collage of four photos taken at the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Bucks County, Pennsylvania: the top-left image shows the historic building's exterior with a sign detailing its status as a National Historic Landmark; the top-right image features an artisan pressing a design into a clay tile; the bottom-left image displays a handcrafted tile with the word "PEACE" and two figures shaking hands; and the bottom-right image showcases shelves filled with a variety of handcrafted tiles for sale, all highlighting the traditional craftsmanship established by Henry Chapman Mercer in the early 20th century.

Exploring the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Bucks County

PA Historic Places Rusty Glessner - August 12, 2024 0

If you're looking for information about visiting the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Bucks County, you're in the right place! The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is a historic, working museum in Doylestown, where...