Category: Railroads

Mitigation Spotlight: Section 106 Agreements, July 2022 – December 2022

February 8, 2023 / Emma Diehl / 0 Comments

This is part of a biannual blog series highlighting the agreement documents executed by PA SHPO in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations.

Between July 1 and December 31 of 2022, PA SHPO has been a signatory to approximately nine (9) Section 106 agreement documents with four different federal agencies as part of consultation for the resolution of adverse effects to historic properties.

Below illustrates a selection of the agreement documents executed within the past six months.

A Little Something for Everyone: Pennsylvania’s Newest Markers

January 11, 2023 / allidavis / 0 Comments

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) recently approved 37 new historical markers, making this one of the largest number of new markers in the program’s history.

Celebrating the Wilkinsburg Train Station Restoration Project

May 18, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

This week our Preservation Month celebration of the 2021 Community Initiative Award winners takes us west to Allegheny County – specifically, the Borough of Wilkinsburg.

The Wilkinsburg Train Station Restoration Project, led by the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (WCDC), received one of PA SHPO’s 2021 Community Initiative Awards for bringing a community landmark back to life.

Just Listed! August – December 2021

January 26, 2022 / Elizabeth Rairigh / 0 Comments

We have an interesting mix of National Register recent listings to bring you for this installment of “Just Listed”. We’ve got an African American YMCA, a few interesting industrial properties making everything from jute cordage to furniture to yarn, a farm, a house, farm, school, and more.

If you’re interested in learning more about any of these properties – or looking to up your trivia game with some Pennsylvania fun facts, you can find a copy of the full National Register Nominations on PA-SHARE.

Evaluating Pennsylvania’s Railroads for National Register Eligibility

November 11, 2020 / Cheryl Nagle / 0 Comments

As all railroad history buffs know, Pennsylvania played an important role in the growth of the industry and has a great abundance of remaining stations, tunnels, bridges, and tracks.

June 14, 1958 aerial showing farm, fields, and roads.

No More Penn Pilot for Historical Aerial Photos!

July 29, 2020 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 11 Comments

PA SHPO recently learned that the Penn Pilot website for historical aerial photographs will be taken offline in the near future. Two new online websites offer free access to these photographs, so update your bookmarks!

#FavoritePAPlaces: PA Humanities Council’s Laurie Zierer

May 25, 2020 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

Pennsylvania’s communities are filled with special and meaningful historic places and spaces that add value to our lives and offer comfort and stability during these challenging times. Now more than ever, it is important to stay connected to our communities.

Today’s Spotlight: Laurie Zierer

4 places; 635 years of Pennsylvania’s history

February 14, 2018 / Guest Contributor / 2 Comments

Each year, the statewide nonprofit Preservation Pennsylvania puts out a call for nominations to its Pennsylvania At Risk list, made up of sites determined to be among the commonwealth’s most endangered historic resources. In 2018, four remarkable places that are part of Pennsylvania’s history were added to the list and will become Preservation Pennsylvania’s work priorities for the year. Continue reading

#FindYourPark: Steamtown National Historic Site

November 18, 2015 / Steven McDougal / 0 Comments

The National Park Service will marks its 100th anniversary in 2016, and in honor of this centennial celebration, PHMC will highlight the National Parks in Pennsylvania throughout the coming year, as seen through the eyes of our staff.

Recently, a couple of us from the office went on a trip to the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. The site is owned by the National Park Service and is the site a rail yard and engine roundhouse of the former Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. We went to discuss consultation between our office and NPS on maintenance and infrastructure improvements at the site. Once we were done with our official discussions, we got a tour of the facilities. Continue reading