The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike is the oldest paved highway in America. It was chartered in 1792 and opened in 1795, connecting farmers in Lancaster County with markets in Philadelphia via a state-of-the-art crushed gravel (or “macadamized”) surface pioneered by … Continue reading
Category Archives: Transportation
Mapping the Wallace Paths (aka those new red lines on CRGIS)
New data set for Wallace’s “Indian Paths of Pennsylvania” added to CRGIS. Continue reading
Saving the Watts Mill Road Bridge: Part 1
Beaver County’s Watts Mill Road Bridge, a National Register-listed Pratt pony truss bridge built in 1878, will be preserved as a new pedestrian crossing through the collaborative efforts of PennDOT, Workin’ Bridges, Beaver County, and the citizens of Beaver County. Continue reading
Metal Truss Bridges Survey Update: More Bridges Determined Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
Metal truss bridges are an important part of Pennsylvania’s engineering and technological history and stand as a legacy to the state’s iron and steel industry.
Add this to your summer reading list! #preservationhappenshere – PA’s Statewide Preservation Plan – is ready for you
Picture yourself – lounging poolside, lakeside, or on the beach – with your tablet or smart phone (or even good old-fashioned paper) enjoying the hottest summer publication that hasn’t yet made the New York Times bestseller list: #preservationhappenshere, Pennsylvania’s next statewide historic preservation … Continue reading
Listening to the Public: Results of the Marketing Archaeology Survey
In the previous Marketing Archaeology blog post, we introduced you to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-eligible Armstrong Site and the associated current Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) road reconstruction and widening project .
Bridge to the Past: PennDOT’s Historic Metal Truss Bridge Management Plan
In June 2016, I was hired as the Transportation Special Initiatives Coordinator in the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). This new position was created through a special funding agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and was developed … Continue reading
Local Landmark for Sale: Johnstown Car Barns
Car barns are a historic remnant of a bygone era. The Johnstown Car Barns, located at 630 and 716 Central Avenue in Johnstown are no exception. Built in 1893 to service and store trolleys, these building help communicate the story … Continue reading
Saltsburg Or Bust!
This past June Barbara Frederick and I were in Saltsburg, Indiana County attending a stakeholder meeting for the Loyahanna and Conemaugh Dam’s master planning process. The Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District has been hard at work this summer updating their … Continue reading
#FindYourPark: Steamtown National Historic Site
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 … Continue reading