Sweet Spots in Western Pennsylvania

After being stuck in the house for 3 days straight due to the Great Polar Vortex of 2019, my husband and I had terrible cabin fever.  We decided to head out and get some stamps in my National Park Passport Book.  We have some National Treasures of our own, tucked right here in South Western PA I'd like to share with you.

Flight 93 Memorial  

I don't think this National Memorial needs much explanation.  I had visited the memorial when the National Park system was still negotiating to purchase the 22,000 acres in Shankesville, PA.  Then, just  a trailor, a parking lot, and a place to leave tributes to the fallen.  Today, it is a memorial site worthy of those who lost their lives.

When entering the park you are welcomed by the Tower of Voices (still under construction). A new monument that memorializes those passengers and crew members, it stands 93 feet tall and contains 40 wind-chimes.  "It is meant to be a living memorial in sound to remember the forty through their ongoing voices," writes the NPS.

You then travel throught he park to the most unique vistor's center I have ever been to.  Open in 2015, the piece of art is made of two tall curved planes, the vistor center is inbetween them.  Inside you will remember that day by watching videos, listening to answering machine recordings from passengers to loved ones, hear President Bush's address to the Nation, see pieces recovered from the crash site, and a wall of remembrace in pictures of those that perished.  A truly sombering visit.

From the vistor center, you can walk the 1.2 mile loop around the field, visiting the crash site along the way.  On this cold winter day, we viewed from the observation deck the final resting place of so many.

We each have our own "Where were you on 911 story."  For me and Doug, we were in Frederick Memorial Hospital, waiting to be discharged after just bringing Dunovan into the world two days prior.  Living outside of D.C. and less that 2 miles from Camp David at the time, the weeks and months that followed changed our lives forever.  Dunovan only lived 48 hrs in a pre-9/11 world.

Travel across the Laurel Mountains 

Western Pennsylvania has many covered bridges.  We came upon this one as we drove from the Flight 93 Memorial to Ohiopyle State Park.

Ohiopyle State Park

Not a National Park but a treasure all its own to those that live and have grown up in Western, PA.  Perched 2,549 feet above sea level on top of the Laurel Mountains, Ohiopyle is located in Fayette County.  Know for "The Falls," white water rafting, 27 miles of The Great Alleghany Passage, and 21 hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult.   Ohiopyle has always been a constant with lazy Sunday family picnics as a kid, bike rides with my dad and brother, white water rafting with friends, and tent camping here with tmy own kids (pre-camper days.)  It has changed and grown over the years from a secret, quaint, small town to a greater Pittsburgh destination. To me it will always be part of "home."

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

I can't tell you the number of times I have visited this National Battlefield.  Just 6 miles from Ohiopyle and located along Route 40, or the National Highway, Fort Necessity is a part of history routed in the French and Indian War.   The confrontation at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754, lead by 21 year old Englishman, George Washington, against the French, was the opening battle for control of the North American continent.  This was also the beginning of the French and Indian War, and the first major military battle for George Washington, and the only time he surrendered to an enemy.

Like Ohiopyle, I can remember visiting this park as a kid for reinactments, school trips, picnics.  This one time in particular, my parents started in the mountains with my brother and I, and did the whole Route 40 history: Fort Necessity, Braddock's Grave, Jumonville Glenn, Searight's Toll House, and Nemacolin Castle (Brownsville, PA).

Friendship Hill National Historic Site 

Located in New Geneva, PA, Friendship Hill was the home of Albert Gallatin.  He was Secretary of the Treasurer for Presidents Jefferson and Madison, for 13 years.  He played many other important roles in shaping our new country, including helping to draft the US Constitution and the Louisiana Purchase.    

Gallatin bought this 370 acre farm in 1786.  He married his wife, Sophia in 1789 but sadly, she died a few months after starting the build of Friendship Hill.  It is believed this heartbreak drove Gallatin into a life of politics.  In 1793, he married Hannah Nicholson of New York City.  In 1795, Gallatin and partners bought 650 more acres and founded New Geneva, named for Geneva, Switzerland, where Gallatin was born.  Located along the Monogahela River, New Geneva became an industrial hub for boring and grinding works for musket manufacture, and for glassworks producing windows and bottles.  

Gallatin spent more time away from Friendship Hill than he did living here.  With his wife, Hannah, being from New York City, she spend most of her time there while Gallatin traveled to Philadelphia, London, and Washington, D.C.  Gallatin sold the Farm in 1825.  

It became part of the National Park Service in 1979 and took a $10 million renovation.  Today you can tour the house and enjoy the trails.