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Pennsylvania State Parks


Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park

8/24/2009 Right after the Fort Loudon marker we headed south to Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park. Here we found the impressive pyramid monument to the actual birthplace of President Buchanan. The setting was quite pretty with very tall pines on a pretty day with warm sun. JB’s birth cabin had been moved, ultimately to Mercersburg Academy where we headed next a few miles away.

The park sign
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Informative signage
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Me and the monument
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Sign showing ...
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... the orginal cabin
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Ken by the monument
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Caledonia State Park

10/5/2008 At this point the sun was getting lower in the sky and we still had Caledonia State Park in mind. ... Not far after Gettysburg we pulled into the SP directly on US30. We parked at one of the picnic parking lots and walked a very short way to the Appalachian Trail. Took a short but qualifying trek up the mountain a little, then back down. Drove a little ways to a waterfall view and checked out an old furnace historic exhibit.

The park sign
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Lincoln Highway signage
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Ken at the base of ...
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... and me at the top of ...
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... the waterfall
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Historic furnace
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Cook Forest State Park

7/1/2007 On the road again into Cook Forest SP (the Black Forest of PA). Took a dirt road to a parking area and took an enjoyable hike to a rock outcropping viewpoint and to a fire tower. I climbed the tower but only saw lots of trees heading off into the mountains.

The park sign
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Our destinations
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Seneca Point ...
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... and the view
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Me at the Point
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The fire tower
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Looking down at Mom
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Cornwall Iron Furnace State Historic Site

10/23/2023 In Cornwall we stopped at the Cornwall Iron Furnace NHL and SHS. The furnace was a leading Pennsylvania iron producer from 1742 until it was shut down in 1883, and the site is the only intact charcoal-burning iron blast furnace in its original plantation in the western hemisphere. We spent some time walking around the complex of various buildings ranging from the main and impressive furnace building to minor support buildings like the Paymaster’s Office.

The site sign ...
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... PA sign ...
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... and interpretive info
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Roasting Oven
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Blacksmith Shop
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A view of the Furnace Building
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A little closer ...
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... and with us
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Paymaster's Office
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Delaware Canal State Park

10/18/2015 Delaware & Lehigh Navigation Canal National Heritage Area


McConnells Mill State Park

7/1/2007 On the road west and north, stopping north of Pittsburgh at McConnells Mill SP. Parked near a beautiful spot on a river with a dam, a working mill at a waterfall over the dam and a covered bridge. Hung out a bit, then north again.

Me
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The mill outside ...
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... and inside
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The dam from the mill
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Nice covered bridge
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Point State Park

8/6/1994 Drove up to Pittsburgh and after a little circling parked near Point State Park [Forks of the Ohio NHL]. Had planned to see the Fort Pitt Museum (which we did) but really lucked out in that it was the Three Rivers Regatta weekend. The whole park was filled with booths with games, food, etc. The local oldies radio station was broadcasting live, and there were river events all day. We saw a water ski show, and the test runs for the tunnel boats to be raced later (very fast - very exciting!). We also saw the silly floats and paddleboats to be raced later.

The funicular
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Ski chair ...
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... skiing ...
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... and tunnel boat
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Model at the museum
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Me and a diorama
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