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Historical Sites
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Genealogists,
teachers, and students are able to find a
wealth of resources concerning Westmoreland
County history at the
Westmoreland County Historical Society.
The Westmoreland County Historical Society
possess a 4,000 volume genealogy, local
history research library, a 500,000 item
archival collection, publications on local
history, an archival collection of photos,
documents, memorabilia, and more. They
offer speakers, school programs, and
research services, as well as info on
Historic Hannas Town (where an active
archeological dig continues). |
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Bushy Run Battlefield has as
its mission to preserve and interpret the
pivotal battle of Bushy Run, fought between
British and Native Americans during the
conflict known as Pontiac's War (1763-64).
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Visit the
Compass
Inn Museum to receive an
informative and entertaining tour by costumed
docents telling the story of transportation
and everyday life in the early 1800's.
Visitors tour seven rooms of the restored inn,
including the common room, serving kitchen,
ladies parlor and four bedrooms.
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Fort
Ligonier is a full-scale,
on-site reconstruction of the 1758-1766
original fort, situated on a strategic hilltop
next to beautiful downtown Ligonier. Living
history activities and reenactments, battles,
encampments, folk crafts and archeological
digs provide a rich historical experience.
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Visitors to
West Overton Museums can watch
“Pillars of Fire,” a film illustrating the
process of turning coal into coke; visit the
Overholt Homestead and Gift Shop; tour two
floors of the Overholt Mill/Distillery, which
contains a large collection of household, farm
and industrial tools; visit the birthplace of
Henry Clay Frick; and tour the wash house and
smokehouse.
Education
Facilities
of higher education in Westmoreland County, PA
include:
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Ranked among
the nation's top small liberal arts colleges,
Saint Vincent
College offers more than 50 degree programs
in the arts and sciences.
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Located near
Greensburg, PA,
Seton Hill
is a small, Catholic, liberal arts university
with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio.
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Carlow
University. Conveniently located on
Route 136, 1.4 miles west of Route 30, Carlow
University offers courses in an accelerated
format designed for working adults.
Undergraduate offerings include Business
Management (with a minor in Human Resource
Management Technology), Early Childhood
Education, and an 18-month RN to BSN Fast-Track
Nursing program. Graduate offerings include
Professional Leadership (concentration in
Training & Development) and a Nurse Practitioner
program. The Greensburg location provides all
the benefits of a Carlow education close to
home!
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The mission
of the Eastern Westmoreland Career and
Technology Center is to prepare students for the
career opportunities available to them. Courses
include digital media technology, food services,
graphic communication, health, welding, auto
mechanics, and more. For more information, call
724-539-9788.
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The
University of
Pittsburgh at Greensburg has grown to a 219
acre campus with 25 buildings, 20 four-year
degree programs, and nearly 1,800 full-time
students. The Pitt Greensburg Alumni Association
counts over 4,000 graduates.
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Westmoreland
County Community College (WCCC) offers 57 associate
degree, 11 diploma, and 21 certificate programs
with options that prepare students for a career
or transfer to baccalaureate degree programs at
four-year institutions.
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Penn State New
Kensington was founded in 1958 as a result
of a study of the local need for higher
education in the Alle-Kiski Valley. The campus
provides the resources of a major research
University within a reasonable commute.
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Other
educational opportunities include the Business
Careers Institute (724-834-1258) and the Central
Westmoreland Career and Technology Center
(724-925-3532).
Worship
The faithful
in Westmoreland County have over 400 churches
and places of worship from which to choose.
Faiths represented include African Methodist
Episcopal, Apostolic, Assembly of God, Baptist,
Baptist-American, Baptist Independent, Baptist
Southern, Brethren Churches, Catholic, Catholic
(Byzantine Rite), Charismatic, Christian,
Christian (Disciples of Christ), Christian and
Missionary Alliance, Christian Scientist, Church
of Christ, Church of God, Church of God (General
Conference), Church of God in Christ, Church of
God in North America, Church of Jesus Christ,
Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, Full Gospel,
Independent, Interdenominational, Fundamental,
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jewish, Latter Day Saints,
Lutheran (ELCA), Lutheran (Missouri Synod),
Lutheran (Wisconsin Synod), Mennonite,
Methodist, Nazarene, Non-Denominational,
Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Russian Orthodox,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Ukrainian Catholic,
Ukrainian Orthodox, United Church of Christ,
Unitarian Universalist, and Wesleyan.
Fun
Facts
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The banana
split was first concocted by Dr. David Strickler
in his pharmacy in Latrobe, PA.
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Early
football historians believed that John Brallier,
a 16-year-old quarterback from Indiana College
in Pennsylvania, became the first pro football
player when he accepted $10 and expenses to play
for the Latrobe town team against Jeannette on
September 3, 1895.
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Legendary
golf pro Arnold Palmer and the host of Mr.
Rogers Neighborhood, Fred Rogers, were both born
and raised in Westmoreland County (Latrobe).
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Idlewild
Park came into existence in 1878, when land
owner William Darlington gave "the right and
privilege to occupy his land for picnic purposes
or pleasure grounds" to Judge Thomas Mellon,
owner of the Ligonier Valley Railroad. This is
believed to make Idlewild the oldest
continuously operated amusement park in the
United States.
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The last
Volkswagon “Rabbit” was assembled at
Volkswagon’s New Stanton, PA production facility
on August 22, 1984.
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Kennametal
is the undisputed global market leader in tools
for the mining and highway construction
industries.
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Westmoreland
Glass Company of Grapeville, Pennsylvania had a
successful history that spanned nearly 100
years, and Westmoreland glass collectibles are
still valued world wide.
Local
Links
For links to
many websites of local interest, including the
areas listed below, please visit the
Local Links section at InWestmoreland.com.
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News
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Towns &
Township Sites
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Schools &
Education
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Business
Associations
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Libraries
and Museums
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Movies and
Television
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Culture and
Theatre
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Travel &
Tourism
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Just for Fun
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Westmoreland County, PA, where
beauty, industry, and an uncommon commitment to
community go hand in hand.
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