Jim Cheney 2017-11-16 15:55:20
Pennsylvania played a prominent role in the history and development of the United States, and that legacy extended into the industries that dominated the industrialization of early America. Today, visitors can learn about this rich history at a variety of sites around the state. Opened in 2016, the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem is one of the state’s newest museums, and it tells the story of the industries that thrived in eastern Pennsylvania such as steel, textiles, and propane. Pennsylvania means “Penn’s Woods,” so it’s no surprise that lumber used to be a major industry. The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Ulysses shows how the lumber industry impacted the northern tier of the state throughout its history. While steel might be synonymous with Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry, it was iron that first made Pennsylvania an industrial power. At Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson, visitors can learn how iron was produced during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Anthracite coal was another of Pennsylvania’s energy resources. Visitors can learn more about the industry’s history and the lives of those who worked in the mines at the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton. Just a short drive away, the Pioneer Coal Mine and Steam Train in Ashland allows visitors to ride into a former coal mine and learn what life was like underground. Many don’t realize that northwestern Pennsylvania was the birthplace of the oil industry. Take a trip to see the Drake Well Museum in Titusville. It was here that the world’s first commercial oil well was dug, and visitors can learn about the world’s first ever oil boom. NAME-DROPPING LEGACY BRANDS Pennsylvania is home to a multitude of iconic companies, and many of these well-known brands offer ways to learn more about their history and products through unique on-site experiences. The Crayola Experience in Easton offers four floors of interactive fun for kids of all ages. A few miles away, C.F. Martin & Co. in Nazareth allows visitors to tour the factory and see how some of the world’s best guitars are made by hand. In Bradford, the Zippo/Case Museum offers a historical look at Zippo lighters and Case knives, as well as the chance to see Zippo lighters being repaired in the workshop. The Woolrich Original Company Store in Woolrich gives visitors the opportunity to shop for some of the country’s highest quality, American-made clothing. Similarly, the Wendell August Forge store in Grove City sells beautiful handmade goods from the last working forge in Pennsylvania. Finally, explore the history of the Heinz Company at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. While there, relive many of Pittsburgh’s and western Pennsylvania’s iconic sports moments with interactive exhibits and memorabilia sure to delight both the casual fan and seasoned veteran at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
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