Our Heritage
Discover the rich history and cultural legacy of Pennsylvania’s lumber industry. From historic logging camps to the rise of sustainable forestry practices, explore how the region’s forests shaped communities, industries, and traditions. Explore the stories of early loggers, the evolution of timber technologies, and the enduring connection between Pennsylvania’s forests and its people.
Cameron County
The Lumber Heritage Region is home to some of the nation’s darkest skies east of the Mississippi River. The Cameron County Dark Sky Master Site Plan supports rural communities in this region as they advocate for the protection of night skies and raise awareness of light pollution... Read more
Attractions
Join the celebration with the Lumber Heritage Quests! Choose your path — Adventurer, Historian, or Explorer — and discover the stories, sites, and spirit of Pennsylvania’s Lumber Heritage Region. Complete quests, unlock prizes, and become an LHR Champ during America’s 250th anniv... Read more
News & Updates
THE HISTORY OF LOLETA January 30, 2020 -Article and photos courtesy of Bob Imhoff This area has been recently nominated and accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places. The area was once a bustling logging town, established in 1889, with over 600 inhabitants. T... Read more
News & Updates
THE HISTORY OF COOK FOREST When the Europeans arrived in the area in the 1700s, the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy used this area as hunting grounds. In 1757, the Proprietary Council of Pennsylvania sent Moravian missionary Christian Frederick Post to convince the Sen... Read more
Our Roots
Take a virtual journey through the first phase of archaeological exploration at the Bark Shanty CCC Camp in Potter County, Pennsylvania and uncover new opportunities to reconnect with our region’s rich roots in lumber and conservation history. Read more
News & Updates
Barbara Novosel’s journey is a testament to strength and devotion to her family. Born as Barbara Balaban on February 20, 1891, in the village of Kostanjevica (now part of Slovenia), her early life in Europe could hardly have foreshadowed the challenges and triumphs she would face... Read more
News & Updates
Potter County, PA – A historic preservation effort is underway deep in the forests of Potter County, where a coalition of partners has come together to bring long-overdue recognition to the Bark Shanty Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp, one of Pennsylvania’s segregated CCC c... Read more
Heritage
Barbara Novosel started a journey to join her husband, Nickola, that would bring her to the remote forests of Pennsylvania. Here they would build a life with their 12 children, leaving an enduring legacy. Read more
News & Updates
Nestled within the wilderness of Cameron County, Pennsylvania, a dedicated conservationist and photographer has spent years advocating for one of North America’s most elusive raptors—the Eastern Golden Eagle. Randy Flament, originally from Monongahela, Pennsylvania, found his cal... Read more
Heritage
During the era of the Great Depression, many young men left school to help support their families. Traditional educational paths were disrupted for countless individuals. The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), launched in 1933 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal,... Read more
Millionaire's Row
The 19th-century lumber boom transformed Pennsylvania’s forests into an industrial powerhouse—before overharvesting led to economic collapse and environmental devastation. This is the story of the rise, fall, and restoration of the Lumber Heritage Region. Read more
Wood On Glass
The scene is crowded with forty schoolchildren of various ages and three adults. Most students have dressed up for the important occasion of having their picture taken. One school teacher, in a dark suit and bow tie, poses with an open book. The freshly painted, one-room schoo... Read more
Wood On Glass
Men and horses are rolling beached logs from the shore back into the water. An ark raft is visible, and the mountainside is nearly bare of trees from extensive clearcutting. Rivers played a key role in transporting goods like logs and lumber for Pennsylvania industries. Read more
Wood On Glass
Ark rafts were flat-bottomed boats used to haul cargo - in this case, lumber. A young girl in an apron positioned by two men also in aprons and holding cookware appear to be the cooks for this crew. In the ark raft furthest back, a horse is also visible and would have made the jo... Read more
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