Historic Locations in
Westmoreland County, PA
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
St. Vincent Gristmill
Museum & Coffeehouse was constructed in 1854 under the direction of
Father Boniface Wimmer. The gristmill's construction is unique, for it was
built almost completely out of wood, while nearly every other building on
the St. Vincent campus is made out of brick.
Historic Sites in Westmoreland County
Historic Sites in the Laurel Highlands
Historic Sites in the Pittsburgh Region