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Did you know ...

• the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Mrs. Thomas H. Gale House is considered a forerunner to the famous Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania?
• the Emmy Award-winning show The Freddy Awards, a ceremony honoring high school theater in the Lehigh Valley region in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is to be the subject of a documentary film?
• the 85-mile (137 km) Susquehannock Trail System hiking trail passes through the 30,253-acre (12,243 ha) Hammersley Wild Area, the largest area in Pennsylvania without a road?
• the 31-mile (50 km) West Rim Trail along the Grand Canyon was selected by Outside Magazine as the best hike in Pennsylvania?
• the Native American Sheshequin Path along Lycoming Creek, Pennsylvania was prone to such bad weather that an evil spirit was believed to reside there?
• the Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 4859 (pictured) pulled the first electric train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg in 1938 and was designated a state symbol of Pennsylvania in 1987?
• the Cogan House Covered Bridge (pictured) in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, USA was built by a millwright who preassembled the frame in a field beside the sawmill to make sure it all fit?
• the Bedford Village Archeological Site in Pennsylvania was discovered on the grounds of a living history museum (pictured)?
• the U.S. federal government sold the disputed Erie Triangle region to Pennsylvania in 1792 so that state would have a freshwater port?
• the summer stock theater at Caledonia State Park in Pennsylvania regularly featured actress Jean Stapleton, well-known for her role as Edith Bunker on the 70's TV classic All in the Family?
• the 1920 film Sex, opening with its star performing a seductive "spider dance" clad in "a translucent cloak of webs", had its title censored in Pennsylvania?
• the 1842 Lombard Street Riot capped thirteen years of recurring racial violence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
• during the American Civil War, Pennsylvania provided over 360,000 soldiers who served in the Union Army, more than any other Northern state except New York?
• before its removal, Pennsylvania Route 963 was the easternmost state traffic route in Pennsylvania?
• backlash from the 1897 Lattimer Massacre in Pennsylvania, an important event in the U.S. history of labor relations, resulted in the addition of some 15,000 new members of United Mine Workers of America union?
• an aqueduct of the abandoned Wiconisco Canal in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania is still used as a highway bridge?
• in 1977, K. Leroy Irvis of Pennsylvania became the first Black American to serve as a speaker of the house in any state legislature in the United States?
• in the Big Runaway during the American Revolution in Pennsylvania in 1778, Rachel Silverthorn (pictured) rode to warn settlers on Muncy Creek of impending attack when no man would?
• industrialist Joseph S. Cullinan (pictured) worked in the oilfields of Pennsylvania from the age of 14, but would later help shape the early oil industry in Texas?
• in the early 1900s, the Spruce Flats Bog in Forbes State Forest, Pennsylvania underwent a forced reversal from forest to bog, and is now slowly returning to a forest?
• in the 19th century, Ganoga Lake (pictured) in Pennsylvania had a hotel, its own ice cutting company, and a branch railroad line to serve both?
• the Cohocksink Creek was once the boundary between two Pennsylvania towns and now runs beneath the streets of the Philadelphia neighborhood of Northern Liberties?
• the Dickson Tavern is the oldest building in Erie, Pennsylvania?
• the new Market Street Bridge (pictured) over the West Branch Susquehanna River between Williamsport and South Williamsport in Pennsylvania is the seventh on that site, and that three of the previous bridges were destroyed by floods?
• the mid-19th century stone arch Bridge No. 3 over Plunketts Creek in Pennsylvania, USA, is listed on the Historic American Engineering Record even though it was destroyed in a 1996 flood?
• the closing of Nittany Furnace (pictured) in 1911 marked the end of modern iron-production in Bellefonte, and presaged the decline of the Pennsylvanian town?
• the Falls Trail along the 24 named waterfalls (Ganoga Falls pictured) in Ricketts Glen State Park has been called "the most magnificent hike" in Pennsylvania?
• the now-defunct Arbogast & Bastian abbatoir in Allentown, Pennsylvania, could process most of the 850,000 hogs raised annually in Pennsylvania?
• throughout his career, Pennsylvania Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak has also been an elementary teacher, principal, high school football coach, superintendent, deputy mayor and city council member?
• when the stone Clemuel Ricketts Mansion (pictured) was built in 1852 on the shores of Lake Ganoga in Pennsylvania, it was so remote it was nicknamed "Ricketts Folly"?
• when the first portion of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad opened in 1856, it led to the incorporation of Kingston, Pennsylvania, and to the establishment of Kingston's first public transit line?
• when the YMCA of Berwick was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1883, the majority of the organization's trustees were current executives of Jackson and Woodin Manufacturing Company?
• when the namesake of Yardley, Pennsylvania, William Yardley, moved from England to Pennsylvania in 1682, he took with him 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of shoes?
• the Pond Eddy Bridge, built in 1904, is the only artery to access 22 homes in Pennsylvania?
• the Pine Creek Rail Trail, a 65 mile (105 km) rail trail along Pine Creek in Pennsylvania, was named one of "10 great places to take a bike tour" in the world by USA Today?
• the Mid-Delaware Bridge (pictured) over the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New York is the uppermost four-lane bridge on the river's main stem?
• the Merrill Lock No. 6 (pictured), located on the Ohio River in Pennsylvania, was converted from a lock complex to a restaurant?
• the Fair Play Men, a group of squatters in colonial Pennsylvania, made their own Declaration of Independence from Britain on July 4, 1776 on the banks of Pine Creek?
• the Erie Gauge War in 1853 was nicknamed the "Peanut War" because its outcome affected the street vendors who sold peanuts to travelers in Erie, Pennsylvania the most?
• the Millersburg Ferry (pictured) in Pennsylvania is the last ferry on the Susquehanna River and the last authentic wooden double stern-wheeled paddle boat operating in the United States?
• the Old Loggers Path, a loop hiking trail in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, uses old logging railroad grades and roads, and its trailhead is a lumber ghost town?
• the Pine Creek Path, a Native American trail along Pine Creek in Pennsylvania, was later used by lumbermen, then its course was followed by a railroad, and today it is a rail trail (pictured)?
• the State Capitol of Pennsylvania (pictured) is the third capitol building to be in Harrisburg, after the first one burned down in 1897 and the second was deemed "ugly" by its designer?
• the Peace Candle (pictured), a 106-foot (32 m) tower-like structure erected each Christmas season in Easton, Pennsylvania, is said to be the largest non-wax Christmas candle in the United States?
• although the name of Pennsylvania's western Conewago Creek means at the rapids in the Lenape language, there are no rapids in the creek itself?
• although Lehigh Gorge State Park in Pennsylvania is now known for whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River, in the 19th century it was the site of a canal built to bypass those same rapids?
• Cornwall Iron Furnace in Pennsylvania is the only intact charcoal-burning iron blast furnace on its original plantation in the western hemisphere?
• Colonel Denning State Park, which opened in Pennsylvania in 1936, is named for an American Revolutionary War hero, Colonel William Denning, who was a sergeant not a colonel?
• Colleen LaRose, also known as "JihadJane", was living in suburban Pennsylvania when she was arrested for recruiting Islamic terrorists and plotting the murder of Swedish artist Lars Vilks?
• Chiques Creek in Pennsylvania, named for the Lenape word Chiquesalunga (meaning place of crayfish), has 13 variant names according to the USGS?
• Cowans Gap State Park in Pennsylvania was the site of a key road in the French and Indian War, a pioneer farm, a charcoal operation, and a CCC Camp?
• Delaware Canal State Park in Pennsylvania contains the only intact 19th century towpath canal in the United States?
• Frances Slocum State Park in Pennsylvania is named for a woman captured by the Lenape at age 5, who permanently lived with Native Americans despite reuniting with her family 59 years later?
• Fort Antes in what is now Nippenose Township, Pennsylvania, survived a scorched earth attack during the American Revolutionary War, despite having been abandoned by its defenders?
• Emil John Mihalik, the first Byzantine Eparch of Parma, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
• Eagle Grange No. 1 (pictured) in Clinton Township, Lycoming County was the first grange to be established in Pennsylvania?
• Cherry Springs Airport in Potter County, Pennsylvania, was closed because the night sky there was too dark?
• six latrines at Black Moshannon State Park in Pennsylvania are listed on the National Register of Historic Places?
• Laporte (courthouse pictured), one of thirteen municipalities in Sullivan County, is Pennsylvania's smallest county seat by population?
• caterpillars of the Oak leafroller (pictured) and Oak leaftier moths are major defoliators of oak trees, with leafroller timber losses in Pennsylvania of over $100,000,000 in the early 1970s?
• Early Archaic peoples used the Houserville Site in Pennsylvania ten millennia ago?
• American Revolutionary war officer Anthony Wayne's bones are buried at St. David's Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania, while the rest of him is buried hundreds of miles away in Erie, Pennsylvania?
• Larrys Creek in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania has 42 named tributaries in its watershed, including one named "Little Dog Run"?
• Native Americans lived at the Canfield Island Site (pictured) on the West Branch Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania for thousands of years, and now hold an annual pow wow there?
• Bald Eagle Creek Path along Bald Eagle Creek in central Pennsylvania was a major connecting path between the Iroquois in the north and the Carolinas in the south?
• Pennsylvania's longest cave extends from Harlansburg to Rose Point, over 11 miles (18 km) away?
• Pennsylvania's Kinzua Bridge (remnants pictured) was the world's longest and tallest railroad bridge when built in 1882, became a state park in 1970, and was knocked down by a tornado in 2003?
• Frank W. Preston invented the furnace which made Corelle glassware possible and worked to establish Moraine State Park in Pennsylvania?
• Frederic A. Godcharles served as a Pennsylvania Representative and Senator, as director of its state library and museum, and wrote twelve volumes on its history?
• Sylvia Seegrist was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for killing three people in 1985 in a Pennsylvania shopping mall, even though she had a history of paranoid schizophrenia?
• St. Thomas of Villanova Church (pictured), upon its completion in 1887, was likely the tallest man-made structure between the Delaware River and Lancaster, Pennsylvania?
• Robert Coleman, owner of several iron furnaces, was Pennsylvania's first millionaire?
• Ricketts Glen State Park (pictured) in Pennsylvania was to have become a national park before budget issues and World War II ended that plan?
• Tussey Mountain in Pennsylvania has been designated as an Important Bird Area, as it is home to several raptor species during their spring migration?
• Warren A. Morton, a Speaker of the Wyoming House, was the father of a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the son-in-law of a U.S. representative from Pennsylvania?
• after the Avondale Mine Disaster, legislation was passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly that made Pennsylvania the first U.S. state to have laws regarding mine safety?
• Upper Pine Bottom Run in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, was home to an iron furnace and sawmills in the 19th century, but today is home to state forest land and the 5-acre (2.0 ha) Upper Pine Bottom State Park?
• Worlds End State Park (pictured) in Pennsylvania is sometimes erroneously known as "Whirls End State Park", its official name for seven years?
• Red Rock Job Corps Center is within Ricketts Glen State Park in Pennsylvania, uses the facilities of the former Benton Air Force Station, and is still home to an FAA radar?
• Ravensburg State Park in Pennsylvania, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, is named for the ravens that still roost there?
• Josh Gibson Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is named for Negro League star Josh Gibson, who has been called the "black Babe Ruth?"
• Dr. Joseph Rothrock is known as the "Father of Forestry" in Pennsylvania, and is the namesake for Rothrock State Forest?
• Jonathan Roberts, a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1814 to 1821, built a school for poor children?
• Jacob Nolde was so inspired by a pine tree on his land in the early 1900s that he planted 500,000 more in what is now Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Pennsylvania?
• Mid-State Regional Airport is a Keystone Opportunity Zone to promote economic growth, but, to protect the Pennsylvania state park and forest (pictured) it was formed from, cannot legally expand?
• Oil Creek State Park in Pennsylvania is the site of the world's first commercial oil well?
• prison contemplative programs like meditation were used in 19th century Pennsylvania as an early prison reform?
• Peter Herdic, a 19th century Pennsylvania lumber baron, millionaire, and philanthropist, also invented the horse-drawn herdic, an early form of taxicab?
• Ole Bull State Park in Pennsylvania is named for the renowned Norwegian violinist who tried to establish a Norwegian colony in the wilderness there in the 1850s?
• 12 died in the 1959 Knox Mine Disaster when the Susquehanna River crashed into a Pennsylvania anthracite coal mine?