|
 What
do quilting, hex signs, coal mines, honeymoons,
railroads, streudel, history, mountains, covered
bridges, and rivers have in common?
Pennsylvania, of
course! Settled in 1643,
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania in Dauphin County is the capital of
PA.
This state saw the
birth of the United States in Philadelphia's
Independence Hall, and the cruel sacrifices made to
establish and defend our new freedom at Valley Forge.
Pennsylvania is called the Keystone State, as it was the
center colony of the original 13 colonies. It was said
that it held the colonies together like the "keystone"
in a window or door arch. Philadelphia was our state
capital during the Revolutionary War.
York was the first capital of the United States, and
The Constitution of the United States and
The American Declaration of Independence were both
written in Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Franklin asked be buried in PA.
The
Industrial Revolution, which affected the entire
civilized world, was triggered in a small 500 mile area
in northeast PA, where anthracite coal was discovered by
men intelligent enough to develop a process to use it
(Jesse Fell of Wilkes-Barre and David Thomas of the
Crane Iron Works in Catasauqua). 300 million year old
plant matter has turned into coal all over the world. In
northeastern Pennsylvania, however, the coal is purer,
harder, and of higher carbon content than other coal.
Over 95 percent of the Western Hemisphere is supplied
with coal from northeastern Pennsylvania.
Erie, PA's harbor is home to the Flagship Niagara,
Commodore Perry's flagship in a decisive battle in the
War of 1812. Gettysburg, PA, was a turning point in the
"War Between the States". A massacre for both sides, the
sobering loss of life is honored in PA's solemn
preservation of this battlefield.
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was written in PA.
 Pennsylvania
was the world's leader in developing transportation
technology in the days when railroads were king and the
state has the world's best collections of trains and
railroading equipment to prove it! The Pennsylvania
Railroad was once the largest in the world, operating
7,000 locomotives and 250,000 cars. The completion of
the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, PA was a significant
engineering feat that opened the United States for
Westward expansion. Pennsylvania was the home to many
railroading firsts. Explore the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and
PA Railways.
Pennsylvania is also the home of numerous sports teams
including the Penn State University Nittany Lions and
professional teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and
Steelers; the Philadelphia Phillies; 76ers and Eagles
and the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons minor league
baseball team and Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
hockey team.
Pennsylvania boasts 50 natural lakes and 2,500 man-made
lakes.
Pennsylvania is also the home of numerous sports teams
including the Penn State University Nittany Lions and
professional teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and
Steelers; the Philadelphia Phillies; 76ers and Eagles
and the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons minor league
baseball team and Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
hockey team.
Links:
Camelback Resort
Covered Bridges
Lackawanna Coal Mine
Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
Marywood University
Montage Mountain
No.
9 Mine & Museum
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Steamtown, U.S.A
 State Bird: Ruffed Grouse
State Flower: Mountain Laurel
State Tree: Hemlock
State Animal: Whitetail Deer
State Fish: Brook Trout
State Dog: Great Dane
State Beverage: Milk
State Motto: Virtue, Liberty and Independence
State Insect: Firefly
State Beautification Plant: Crownvetch
State Electric Locomotive: GGI 4859 Electric Locomotive
State Steam Locomotive: K4s Steam Locomotive
State Ship: United States Brig Niagara
State Fossil: Phacops Rana
State Song: Pennsylvania
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