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.
Wood On Glass
The growth of Cross Fork was phenomenal after a large sawmill opened there on May 3, 1894. Four months after the mill converted its first tree into boards, the local newspaper, the Tribune, boasted that Cross Fork had: “2 drug stores, 3 meat markets, 5 grocery stores, 3 millinery... Read more
Wood On Glass
Frank H. Goodyear of the Goodyear Lumber Company is credited with adapting the basic idea of the portable steam shovel, patented by Henry M. Barnhart in 1884, to the logging industry around 1887. The Barnhart loaders operated from rails fastened to the tops of the log cars; allow... Read more
Roots Uncovered
On a crisp May morning in 1901, Annie Myers boarded a timber raft with her husband, Thomas, and their sons, embarking on what would become a historic journey from Lock Haven to Marietta. A story immortalized in The Clinton Republican hailed Annie as the first and only woman to ma... Read more
Roots Uncovered
The lumber industry in Pennsylvania’s forests brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds. While these communities were often isolated, the shared challenges of the work fostered a unique camaraderie and mutual respect among workers. Read more
Roots Uncovered
The lumber industry in Pennsylvania brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds and faiths, creating a unique tapestry of spiritual practices in the remote forests of the Lumber Heritage Region. Read more
Roots Uncovered
Life in Pennsylvania’s lumber camps was rugged and demanding, yet for some, it was also a family affair. Families like Alma and Jake Swanson’s Read more
Roots Uncovered
The turn of the 20th century brought significant changes to Pennsylvania’s lumber industry. Advancements in technology and transportation expanded access to remote forests, while the growing demand for wood fueled the rise of related industries. Read more
Roots Uncovered
The Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania is steeped in history, with stories that intertwine industry, progress, and the fight for justice. Read more
Heritage
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unsustainable logging and agricultural practices had left many parts of the United States in ecological peril. States like Pennsylvania, once celebrated for their verdant forests, suffered severe depletion as their natural resources were... Read more
Heritage
Discover the Kinzua Sky Walk at Kinzua Bridge State Park, named one of the world’s top 10 most beautiful skywalks. This engineering marvel extends 624 feet into the Kinzua Gorge Read more
Heritage
The Lumber Heritage Region's Management Action Plan for 2025-2030 outlines a strategic approach to preserving, promoting, and sustainably developing the region’s resources. Through partnerships, educational initiatives, marketing efforts, and a diversified funding strategy, LHR a... Read more
Our Roots
The 19th-century lumber industry devastated Pennsylvania’s forests, but modern efforts in managed growth and ecological sensitivity are restoring and preserving these vital resources for future generations. Learn how historical and contemporary conservation initiatives are renewi... Read more
Our Roots
Central Pennsylvania's lumber industry in the 19th century was pivotal in building America, supplying essential materials and driving economic growth through innovative logging and transportation methods. Read more
Our Roots
Pennsylvania's rivers and artificial waterways played a crucial role in transforming the state into a timber industry powerhouse, facilitating the transport of logs and fostering economic growth through innovative techniques and structures. Read more
Heritage
The Kinzua Bridge, also known as the Kinzua Viaduct, was once a towering railroad trestle spanning the Kinzua Creek in McKean County, Pennsylvania. At 301 feet tall and 2,052 feet long, it was hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" when it was completed in 1882. Read more
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