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Gettysburg’s Shriver House Museum Tells the Civilian Experience

We’ve all read about the horrors of the Civil War but it is often easy to forget the toll these battles took on the local citizens. Once the troops moved on, it didn’t mean that it was over for the townspeople. Instead, the armies left their injured and dead men and horses behind, along with …

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Pittsburgh’s Fountain of Youth in North Park

What would it be like to stay young forever? Or maybe just to rewind 10 or 20 years? Would you do anything differently? Society has been obsessed with reversing time pretty much since the beginning of time. This is why when you see a stone structure marked “Fountain of Youth” along a road outside of …

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Allegheny Arsenal: The Day Pittsburgh Exploded

Tucked behind a playground and a ball field in the shadow of Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood lies a 200-year-old building which stood witness to the largest civilian disaster of the Civil War. While most of the Allegheny Arsenal is now gone, the powder magazine is still standing as a reminder of this nearly-forgotten …

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Pittsburgh’s National Negro Opera Company House

Nowadays the house doesn’t look like much. In fact, the building has been condemned and there are missing walls and broken windows. It will take millions of dollars to restore the house to its former glory, but former glory it once had. This house was once home to the National Negro Opera Company and saw …

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Mount Moriah Cemetery: Philadelphia’s Abandoned Cemetery

Located just outside of Philadelphia, the abandoned Mount Moriah Cemetery is little-by-little being reclaimed by nature. In fact, at first glance, you might think it the set of some sort of movie instead of the final resting place of thousands of Philadelphians.  What is unique about this cemetery is not just its storied history as …

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Morris Arboretum: North America’s Last Victorian Fernery

When you think of Philadelphia, Victorian gardens might not be the first thing that comes to mind. It might surprise you then that there are quite a few gardens right outside of the city. One of these is Morris Arboretum, started by John and Lydia Morris, a wealthy brother and sister. Although it was started …

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Horseshoe Curve: Western Pennsylvania’s Engineering Marvel

If you have ever been to Altoona, Pennsylvania you have probably figured out that the town has a rich history with railroading. This history is evident not only by noticing the current rail industry in the town, but also the many references that can be found regarding railroaders, railroading, and of course, the famous Horseshoe …

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The Hidden History of Greensburg’s St. Clair Park

Right now in downtown Greensburg, off of Maple Avenue, is St. Clair Park. This unassuming city park is probably best known for its annual SummerSounds outdoor concert series held at the Robertshaw Amphitheater each summer. However, there is more history to this park than meets the eye.  Last week we had a beautiful evening so …

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Pittsburgh’s St. Anthony Chapel: The World’s Second Largest Collection of Relics

Sitting high atop Troy Hill on the North Side of Pittsburgh is St. Anthony Chapel. On the outside it is a rather ordinary-looking church with twin spires and a statue of St. Anthony on the top. It sits several streets back from the Main Street and if you weren’t looking for it you might miss …

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