2021-12-08 00:37:34
As one of the nation’s early industrial centers, there are impressive structures aplenty to see in the Keystone State. Start your tour at Kinzua Bridge State Park and the Kinzua Viaduct, a soaring 2,000-foot railroad structure originally built in 1882 and located near Mt. Jewett. Walk along a 225-foot-high portion with its glass floor, a great spot for wildlife viewing, photo taking, and marveling at what was once the highest railroad viaduct in the world. The Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct currently holds the distinction of the world’s longest concrete railroad bridge. The 240-foot-high, nearly half-mile-long structure in Nicholson has stood strong for more than a century. In fact, freight trains still use these rail lines, easily seen from the town below. True to its name, Railroad Horseshoe Curve National Landmark winds its way through the Alleghenies, making a nearly perfect half-circle of rail around the Kittanning Reservoir near Altoona. Built in 1854, this engineering marvel and surrounding tunnels effectively conquered the steep slopes of the mountains, allowing trains access to western Pennsylvania. On the “home” front, Fallingwater is, without exaggeration, one of the icons of American residential architecture. Often cited as Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, the Modernist structure is a combination of concrete, steel, stone, and wood, perched atop a dramatic waterfall near Mill Run. On your guided tour, you’ll learn about the craftsmanship and history of this spectacular 1939 house, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a step away from the ordinary on a tour of Fonthill Castle in Doylestown. Just after the turn of the 20th century, it was the home of Henry Chapman Mercer, an archaeologist and ceramist with a love for castle-like architecture, antique tilework, and artistic prints. On your guided tour, you’ll see some of the 44 rooms, 200 windows, and 18 fireplaces of this eccentric marvel.
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