Southwestern Pennsylvania

Coal deposits were found in a 500 square mile area in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which were formed over 300 million years ago from the decaying plants and organic substances which once dominated the area. As time progressed, changes to the Earth’s tectonic plates and the environment caused the organic materials to carbonize and form black mineral deposits, which we know as coal today. Unlike other areas in the United States where coal is found, the region underwent a seismic process where coal formation was much more aggressive. Fold mountains created from tectonic plates converging added massive pressure resulting in coal deposits with higher levels of carbon called anthracite.

Today, the majority of coal used in production comes from Northeastern Pennsylvania. During the Industrial Revolution, anthracite coal powered homes and businesses across the Northeastern United States. Railroad transportation between Philadelphia, New York City, and other cities in the Northeast was made possible thanks to these discoveries. European immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Wales, Italy, and Poland found opportunities during this boom in coal to make a living. Despite the violence and anguish which made the lives of these immigrants harder as they risked their lives working under hazardous conditions, they managed to find joy in the hard work they brought to the table and rose up to demand better wages and safety regulations.

They were powerful enough to bring coal production, transportation, and distribution of anthracite coal during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency (1901-1909). While the region’s coal industry isn’t the same as it once was, you’ll still see many historical remnants of an area that thrived from job opportunities in the coal industry during your visit. Stop by at the Lackawanna Historical Society  in Scranton’s Hill Section and you’ll get a glimpse into what life was like in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. You can also visit the Anthracite Heritage Museum where you can experience the hard work and determination of European immigrants who worked in the coal mining industry’s factories, mills, and mines.

Head further down south in Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh and the surrounding countryside await you! Your vacation will be spent having a blast at the many festivals, attractions, and events specific to Pittsburgh and surrounding areas, not to mention the nearby Youghogheny River, the #1 spot for whitewater rafting and kayaking.

There’s something for everyone to do while they’re in Pittsburgh. For comedy fans, there’s the Pittsburgh Comedy Festival where for four days, there’s nonstop comedy from some of the best performers in the area and the country. Music lovers will have a blast in the summertime with the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival and see exceptional opera performances at the Pittsburgh Festival Opera, just to name a few of the festivals you can attend while you’re there.

To pack your vacation with tons of history, the Senator John Heinz History Center will take you through over 250 years of Pittsburgh history. You’ll see the original sets and props from the classic children’s television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, learn about inventor George Westinghouse’s feud with Thomas Edison, and listen to jazz music at the Crawford Grill from the likes of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Mary Lou Williams, Billy Strayhorn, and many more!

To get the most energy and excitement from your vacation, consider looking into the parks and trails in the Allegheny Mountains. The Allegheny National Forest, the only national forest in Pennsylvania, covers 513,175 acres of land. There are over 200 miles of hiking trails alone, and if you’re looking to bootstrap your adventure in Western Pennsylvania, the Allegheny National Forest will give you everything and more.

Check out the Twin Lakes Hiking Trail which runs for 15.8 miles and is the second longest trail in the park. Don’t miss the nearby Twin Lakes Campground after a long day of hiking and going trout fishing at the Tionesta Creek, Wolf Run, or Crane Run, all very popular trout fishing areas. The campground is within close distance of the best fishing and swimming locations.

For more things to do in the area, and head towards Raystown Lake near Hesston and go spelunking at one of the three caves: Indian Caverns, Penn’s Cave, or Lincoln Caverns, all part of Pennsylvania’s largest collection of caves! To experience more of the area’s most stunning spots, visit Fallingwater, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous works built over one of Bear Run’s waterfalls.