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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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Six Things to Ride at Lake Erie’s Waldameer Park

  Located along the banks of Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie is one of only thirteen trolley parks left in the United States. Meaning “woods by the sea” in German, Waldameer Park is the fourth oldest park in Pennsylvania and the tenth oldest park in the nation.    When you head to any amusement park, one of …

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North Park Water Tower Stand Pipe and The Terrazzo Floor

 At first glance, the North Park water tower appears to be a looming column of rusting steel. Looks, however, can be deceiving. This tower holds a fantastic secret that no one but a select few have seen in almost 50 years. Built in 1937, Pittsburgh’s North Park Water Tower, officially known as the North Park …

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From the Vatican to Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Creche is One of a Kind

For me, one of my favorite Christmas displays is the creche. There are so many variations of the nativity scene located in various places, but did you know the Pittsburgh Creche is particularly special? When you first see the creche, which is located in the plaza of the US Steel Tower, you will notice its …

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Ascend the Holy Stairs at St. Patrick Church in the Strip District

Tucked away on a side street in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Strip District is St. Patrick Catholic Church. From the outside the church is rather unassuming. It has a small, narrow tower and a simple brick exterior. A statue of St. Patrick stands out front.  The building’s simple exterior belies the unique treasure that lies …

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The Tumble Bug: The Midway’s Classic Flat Ride

**Update: Sadly, I have to update this post to say that in the summer of 2021 Conneaut Lake Park lost their Tumble Bug when its mechanism was scrapped. The cars, however, were saved and apparently sold to a collector who has aspirations to rebuild the ride. I would love to again update this post to …

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Buhl Planetarium: The North Side’s Million Dollar Theater of the Stars

Overall, I haven’t been hugely impressed with some of the “improvements” that have been made on Pittsburgh’s North Side (ahem, Allegheny Center, gag). Anyway, thankfully someone had the foresight to save some of that area’s true treasures including the Carnegie Library of Allegheny, the Allegheny Post Office, and Buhl Planetarium. Buhl Planetarium is one that …

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Four Must-Do Chocolate-Themed Attractions in Hershey

If you are a first-time visitor to Hershey it’s my guess you are probably making the trip in order to experience the town’s one-of-a-kind connection to chocolate. There are tons of fascinating things to do in the Harrisburg and Hershey area, but if it is your first time in the area the chocolate attractions are …

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The Everett Railroad Allows You To Experience the Power of Steam

My boys have always been fans of railroads (If we are being honest, so have I). Maybe it’s genetic since my father is also a railfan and I grew up making model railroads and learning about steam engines with him. Naturally, when we had the opportunity to visit the Everett Railroad in Hollidaysburg, we all …

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Connellsville’s Crawford School of Terror Teaches Fear

It’s as if Crawford School was destined to be a haunt from the very day it was built. Constructed in 1916 as Crawford Elementary School it was an imposing structure built with red brick and adorned with lions heads and a coat of arms above the entrance. It operated until 1976 when it became the …

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Exploring West Overton Village The Birthplace Of Henry Clay Frick

It’s no secret there are many hidden historical gems right here in Westmoreland County. One of these gems is West Overton Village, located just outside of Scottsdale in Westmoreland County.  West Overton was founded by Henry Overholt in the early 1800s but it was his son Abraham Overholt that took the Overholt farm from a …

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