They call it ‘the City of Brotherly Love’, and as a city I found it very easy to love Philadelphia. Having just arrived on the Greyhound from New York the contrast couldn’t have been more different. Despite Philadelphia’s size its centre was compact and…Read More

They call it ‘the City of Brotherly Love’, and as a city I found it very easy to love Philadelphia. Having just arrived on the Greyhound from New York the contrast couldn’t have been more different. Despite Philadelphia’s size its centre was compact and walkable. There was a free-spirited and rather idiosyncratic approach to the use of public spaces that I found appealing. And the locals were friendliness personified. I was shocked the first time a passer-by spoke to us out of the blue; by the third time it happened I was no longer surprised. The natives here are friendly!

All this came as a bit of a surprise for me. I hadn’t known what to expect from Philly. This was the first time I had ever been to America and Philadelphia was a late addition to an itinerary which was originally just to be in New York for my girlfriend’s 30th birthday. It was me who insisted that if we were paying so much for transatlantic flights we might as well upgrade our stay from four nights in NYC to a full fortnight taking in more of the country. Philadelphia made it on to our whistle-stop tour purely because, in Independence Hall
, it housed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That was the main attraction and reason enough – in my eyes at least – to include two nights in the city. But when I left I thought that I would happily have spent longer here.

The city is heaven for politics nerds or students of American history. Philadelphia played a large part in the USA becoming the nation it is today. By the late 18th century Philadelphia was the largest city in Britain’s American colonies. The debates that took place while the Continental Congress met here led to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence; once freedom had been won more discussions occurred to draft a constitution for the new nation. Philadelphia served as capital for a decade while Washington was under construction. The City of Brotherly Love, with its long tradition of tolerance, was the birthplace of America.

Understandably then, the area around Independence Mall is the must-see location in Philadelphia. This has been designated the Independence National Historical Park. Its sights, such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center are free to enter. For die-hard politics nerds the National Constitution Center sits nearby. You can stroll down through the atmospheric Old City and check out Benjamin Franklin’s grave at Christ Church. We continued down to the waterfront walk along the Delaware River – enjoyable more for the breeze off the river and a couple of sombre Korean and Vietnam War memorials than for the much-hyped ‘Penn’s Landing’. Heading back through the modern city centre a stop for Philly delicacies at Reading Terminal Market is a must before gazing at the green-and-white needle-tipped City Hall. Pop culture buffs may want to head up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to recreate Rocky’s famous run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Our trip took place in July. We had missed the Independence Day celebrations but the city gleamed. Bunting hung along the streets. Fountains sparkled in the sunlight. Representations of the city’s baseball mascot, the ‘Philly Phanatic’, were scattered throughout the city. Rebecca posed kissing one for my camera in ‘Love Park’ (otherwise known as JFK Plaza, and a great example of Philadelphia’s public spaces). As she did so an overjoyed local sprang from the bushes with a cry of "You kissed the Phwanatic!" There was a sense of pride in their city that was palpably evident from everyone we encountered.

Bizarrely, the streets emptied out in the evening. Thronged with families and tourists during the day, after 5pm the city seemed to empty. It looked like all those visitors we had seen were daytrippers. So to get the best out of Philadelphia stay over. We had no trouble finding places to eat, the summer evenings were balmy, it was safe to walk about, and Independence Hall looked stunning floodlit at night.
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The Great Pittsburgh Pierogie races occurs during Pirates game in the middle of the 5th inning. Sadly, it tends to be the highlight of the game.The contestants are Jalapeno Hannah, Cheese Chester, Sauerkraut Sal, and Oliver Onion. I always root for Cheese Chester. I've heard…Read More

The Great Pittsburgh Pierogie races occurs during Pirates game in the middle of the 5th inning. Sadly, it tends to be the highlight of the game.
The contestants are Jalapeno Hannah, Cheese Chester, Sauerkraut Sal, and Oliver Onion. I always root for Cheese Chester. I've heard that the favorite character among the becostumed runners is Hannah because "she" carries a purse -- a potential weapon against "her" adversaries.
The Pierogies are very popular among the kids at the stadium and are hounded for pictures and autographs or perhaps just a pat on the back. It saddens me that the enthusiasm for the Race all too often exceeds that for the game itself.
It's nice to inject a little bit of whimsy into the game, but I can't help but feel it's a minor-league gag in a major-league stadium. I can't imagine a New York-style pizza race within the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium, but PNC Park, despite its physical beauty, has a long way to go before it could be considered hallowed.   Close

This was my first time I’ve ever step foot in Philadelphia, and this is simply a compilation of my observations and experience on a short little side trip there.My friend and I weren’t originally even going to stop in Philadelphia. We were simply going to…Read More

This was my first time I’ve ever step foot in Philadelphia, and this is simply a compilation of my observations and experience on a short little side trip there.

My friend and I weren’t originally even going to stop in Philadelphia. We were simply going to pass through Philly on the way from Washington DC to New York City. We remembered an old friend that moved out to Philadelphia from California a few years ago and made contact with him. He offered to show us around for a day if we wanted to stay the night in Philly. On my friend’s recommendation, we booked a room at the Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia City Center. For minimal cost, we changed our Amtrak tickets from Washington DC to NYC to allow us to spend the night in Philly.

Our old friend met us in the Reading Terminal Market, which was a really good choice, as it introduced me to Pennsylvania Dutch food. After a meal at the Reading Terminal Market, we took a quick walk over to the Independence National Historic Park area. We saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and wandered around the area a bit to look at the sights.

It's suprisingly easy to get around the parts of Philadelphia we visited. The city doesn't seem all that far to walk around. There's also SEPTA, the public transit district which includes the subway and buses, which helped us get around.

From what we saw, it seems that a good portion of Philadelphia’s celebrated history is about William Penn and Benjamin Franklin. We visited Benjamin Franklin’s grave at the Christ Church Burial Ground at the corner of Arch and 5th Streets. We walked by Betsy Ross’ house, and some other historical sites. It’s interesting to me how there are a good number of historic buildings and places of historical significance integrated with more modern buildings in Philadelphia’s cityscape.

The next morning, after a good breakfast at Reading Terminal Market’s The Dutch Eating Place, we went to the US Mint for the free public tour. Problem is that we were not allowed to take cameras into the Mint, so one of us had to take the camera and wait outside while the other went in for the tour. In addition, cell phones must be turned off while inside the US Mint, so I had to stay around the area while waiting. During my time outside holding the camera, I visited both the National Constitution Center and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The US Mint is across the street from the National Constitution Center, and the Fed is one street beyond that.

I realized the Fed was having a free exhibit, called "Money in Motion." I entered the front lobby of the Federal Reserve Bank and inquired about the Money in Motion exhibit. The exhibit is a limited time exhibit, and the Federal Reserve Bank building is normally not open to public access. Since this seemed like a unique opportunity, I decided to take advantage of it. The Federal Reserve Bank security is so much heavier than the US Mint. With all the armed guards, heavy concrete-filled planters, double security doors, sally ports which allow one person to pass at a time, and inch thick bulletproof glass, the Federal Reserve looks as if it’s set up to withstand an armed assault. There was no photography allowed inside, and it simply looks like a modern office building with a large atrium in the middle. The Money in Motion exhibit was off to the side of the lobby, and largely unimpressive as far as side. However, the Money in Motion exhibit was extremely educational about the job that the Federal Reserve does. There were displays of how money is controlled, how the Fed received new money from the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing and "monetizes" it, and how the Fed decommissions old currency and shreds it. The display attendant even gave me a packet of shredded $100 bills. After spending about 20 minutes with the interactive displays and learning quite a lot about the Federal Reserve Bank, I decided it was time to move on. I didn't submit an IgoUgo review of Money in Motion since it was a limited time event in the Federal Reserve Bank, which is a facility not normally allowing public access.

The National Constitution Center is a museum devoted to the US Constitution and the study and understanding of it. I wandered into the lobby and learned there is a $20 entry fee to see the exhibits. My friend called me shortly thereafter to let me know he had just finished his turn in the US Mint tour, so I had to leave the National Constitution Center. I wouldn’t have been worth it for me to spend $20 unless I knew how much time I would have in the museum exhibits there.

I’m a big history buff, and it’s just mindboggling how much history is intertwined into the landscape and history of Philadelphia, and how important the city is to US History. I wish I had more time to explore around Philly. My experience in Philadelphia is limited to the day we spent around the Independence Park and Reading Terminal Market area. But from what I’ve seen there, I like it in Philadelphia, and I’m going to be returning in the future.
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War casts suspicions. Who is the enemy? Where does the enemy live? What does the enemy look like? After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II, Washington declared people of Japanese ancestry a threat to national security. An Executive Order…Read More

War casts suspicions. Who is the enemy? Where does the enemy live? What does the enemy look like? After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II, Washington declared people of Japanese ancestry a threat to national security. An Executive Order issued by Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 forced Japanese people living in the US and Japanese-American citizens to move into ten military concentration camps built in seven states. The Order uprooted thousands from their homes and commercial livelihoods.

Camps I, II and III were located in Poston, Arizona. As detainees living there from 1942 to 1945, the families adapted, built schools, educated their children and lived as a community. They created an irrigation system and planted crops, improvements still evident today in the fertile expanse of farmland in the region.

Decades later, the Poston Memorial Monument near the site of Camp I pays tribute to the memories of the people imprisoned in Poston. It is a reminder of the civil liberties they lost and were later restored.

The designers of the monument, Ray Takata and Stephan Hamamoto, say that the single 30 foot concrete pillar of the monument symbolizes "unity of spirit". The hexagonal base represents a Japanese stone lantern. The 12 small pillars situated around the monument make it a working sundial. The monument was finished off with palm trees and landscaping materials also donated by Camp I detainees and their families.

Alone at the Monument, just Ed and I, we slowly walked among the 12 small pillars, pillar-to-pillar. We gazed up to the top of the tall centrally place pillar and shaded our eyes from the bright noon sun. We read the inscriptions. And, we wondered about the bouquets of silk roses resting on the monument ledge. We had a quiet moment to think about the importance of the liberties we enjoy in the US. How we cherish these civil liberties. How one act by the government can take away the freedom of over 100,000 people?

The Poston Memorial Monument was built in the summer of 1992 mainly through volunteer efforts by members and friends of the Poston Memorial Monument Committee. Donations from survivors and decedents of survivors from the three Poston Camps financed the project. The Colorado River Indian Tribal Council granted use of one acre of land on which the monument and kiosk are built.
The monument is on Mohave Road, the route we drove from Ehrenberg and Parker, Arizona. I am glad we stopped for just a moment to pause, reflect, give tribute for a sacrifice, and remember our freedoms.
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Brrrr, Momma. It’s cold in here."Despite my daughter Suzie’s complaints, I stubbornly refused to close the driver side car windows. Even with the Toyota heater turned to the maximum red zone and the fan turned to high, the December air nipped our exposed faces.…Read More

Brrrr, Momma. It’s cold in here."

Despite my daughter Suzie’s complaints, I stubbornly refused to close the driver side car windows. Even with the Toyota heater turned to the maximum red zone and the fan turned to high, the December air nipped our exposed faces.

"We can’t be looking at Overly’s Christmas lights through the car windows. Besides we need to hear the Christmas carols too. Just zip your coat to the neck and stuff your hands in your pockets."

The tradition of Overly’s Country Christmas goes back over 50 years when Harry Overly first decorated his rural Armburst home with a few stands of lights. When I saw the display for the first time some 26 years ago, it had grown from few to many. The elaborate display featured white lights intricately strung on the branches of trees and attached in rows on miles of fence that outlined the property. I remember a living nativity scene and Santa on the roadside handing red and green lollipops to all the children in each passing car. Santa’s elves greeted the visitors and accepted donations to benefit children’s medical services.

Each year Harry Overly added more lights and even animated some of the display. I remember my favorites: a horse pulling a carriage with light synchronized to look like the legs and wheels actually moved, a cascading fountain, and a rotating carousel. The lights outlining his house, ringing the perimeter of his property fence, and illuminating all the figures, could be seen from the nearby hilltops. It was a photographer’s delight and a Christmas tradition for the many families who inched by the display in the bumper-to-bumper traffic backed up for miles.

The attraction grew with more visitors and more lights. After the 35 years that the light display was held at this private home, Overly’s display moved to the 15 acre site of the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Greensburg where it’s now called Overly’s Country Christmas. The display features 2.4 million twinkling lights. It is a nationally recognized holiday light display. That’s where we were on this freezing December night – me, my Mom, Suzie and my son’s little girl, my five-year-old granddaughter Brianna.

Brianna and I didn’t mind the cold. Our excitement gave us warmth. As we drove the circuit around the light display, Brianna squealed when she saw the fairy castle. Could it be Cinderella’s palace? We saw my old favorites and more: the outline of railroad depot and train engine, familiar cartoon characters, and outlines of old town buildings. When we’d finished our drive around the holiday lights, I parked the car on the hard packed dirt lot so we could enter Overly’s Country Christmas Village. Red, white, and blue nutcracker soldiers guarded the entrance to the magical place.

First, we stopped at Hartman Station, the G-gauge model train display, partly to warm-up in the heated building. The village looked real, suspended in a time when train transportation moved people and commerce through the countryside. Nostalgic like the trains, a team of horses stood outside ready to pull a wagon load of people through the light display. Suzie and Brianna were immediately drawn to the horses, more interested in talking to them and stroking their manes instead of a ride.

Now, where’s the Talking Christmas Tree? We detected it by the crowd of knee-high children clutching the hands of parents. They stood in wonder as this broad, tall tree with colorful lights and big eyes asked their names, the name of the town where they lived, and whether they’d been to see Santa yet. I introduced Brianna and myself to the Talking Christmas Tree because Brianna would not say a word. The whole time we stood in front of this child mystifying pine, I served as Brianna’s mouth piece. She’d whisper something in my ear and I’d have to relay the message to the Talking Christmas Tree. "Tell the Tree about Brady….Tell the Tree I am five years old and go to pre-school…Ask the Tree if the Grinch will steal Christmas." That last question drew an emphatic response from the Tree, "We have the very best of security," said the Talking Christmas Tree with conviction. "There is absolutely no way the Grinch will ever steal Christmas!" Brianna felt reassured and so did I.

We made another stop to get warm. This time we huddled close to the bonfire where the heat from the flames warmed our faces and with a turn our back sides too. We agreed our next stop would be a visit to Santa.

The line to Santa’s lap ran the length of his workshop and moved slow enough that we could browse the display of antique toys. Brianna’s big brown eyes opened wide with wonder as we looked at the Christmas tree, candy cane striped candles, baby dolls, a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy, kid’s size pool table, and antique toddler pull toy in the shape of a cow. A photographer from the Scottdale Independent newspaper on assignment to cover Overly’s Country Christmas saw Brianna. He asked permission to candidly photograph her while we waited in line. Brianna had not heard this adult conversation so she continued to lean over the protective rail staring at all the toys. Several days later, her photo hit the front page of the newspaper. She was most surprised when I showed her. She never knew she’d been photographed that night. She’d been preoccupied with the toys and reviewing the list of gifts she’d ask Santa to bring her on Christmas.

We left the warmth of Santa’s warm workshop to give Brianna a ride on the kiddy train. Each time she passed the spectators – Grandma Helen, Aunt Suzie and me – Grandma Patty – she gave a wave and big smile.

The wind blew. "Brrrr," I heard Suzie say. "Let’s go to the gift shop." Colorful nutcracker soldiers of assorted sizes filled the rows of shelves. Tree ornaments hung on evergreen covered pegs. On a floor level shelf, Brianna found a ball of fresh mistletoe with a red ribbon. Suzie knelt down to see what Brianna had found. "Aunt Suzie, look! It’s mistletoe," Brianna held the ball above Suzie’s head and kissed her. That moment, it didn’t matter how cold we felt. Brianna warmed us through and through with that one gesture – a kiss under the mistletoe at Overly’s Country Christmas!
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I love a good road trip. There's nothing like rolling the windows down, cranking the music up, and hitting the wide, open road... even if it's just for a three hour trip. This was my family's first real vacation in a few years,…Read More

I love a good road trip. There's nothing like rolling the windows down, cranking the music up, and hitting the wide, open road... even if it's just for a three hour trip. This was my family's first real vacation in a few years, after getting our Shih-Tzu a few years earlier and not being sure of how to travel with her. We finally figured that we might as well bring her along, drive to our destination and stay in a pet-friendly hotel. This trip was sort of a trial-run for a bigger trip to Florida we were planning for the next year, so we wanted to go somewhere close and familiar. What better place than Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a gorgeous town we'd already visited countless times and really loved? I couldn't have been more excited!

I hadn't been able to sleep all night the night before. After a six year vacation hiatus we were finally going on vacation in the morning and the excitement was overwhelming! The day before had been a busy day. My cousins Jessica and Samantha had been over and we spent the day hanging out, walking around the neighborhood, and just generally acting crazy and cracking each other up. We had also stayed up all night watching the MTV Video Music Awards and by the time they left it was already after midnight... and I still had to pack! I finished up doing everything I had to do and just laid in bed. I slept for an hour or two at most. When it was finally time to get up I was pretty exhausted, but my adrenaline was pumping so it wasn't too bad.

We had decided that we were going to leave later than we usually do to go on vacation. We normally leave as early as possible but we wanted to leave later in the morning so that we could walk Oreo at a normal time and try to miss the morning rush-hour traffic around Manhattan and Philadelphia. We had to start off the vacation right, though, so we decided to meet my Aunt Stacy, Uncle Alan, and little cousin Alison at our local diner at 8:00. There was no way my brother Mike was getting out of bed any earlier than he had to so we just left him home. He hates the diner anyway.

We met my Aunt Stacy, Alan, and Alison in the parking lot and all went to get a table. The diner was pretty empty so we were seated right away and all ordered our food. I got French Toast which is my absolute favorite! It was so exciting having our first breakfast of trip, even though we were still in Brooklyn. Our food arrived by 8:30 and we passed the time eating and talking about how excited we were. Well, dad, Aunt Stacy, Alan, Alison and I talked about everything we wanted to do and see while my mom worried about how the dog would handle the situation. Mom, relax... we're going on VACATION!

We finished eating and left the diner at 9:00, and I was very surprised when Mike opened the door for us. Not only was he up but he was DRESSED! For a kid who sleeps as late as possible whenever he can, I was definitely surprised. I took it as a sign that he was excited, too. At least a little bit. We all hung out around the house and just relaxed. At 10:00 my mom and dad loaded the rest of our luggage and bags into the car and then walked Oreo while Mike, Aunt Stacy, Alan, Alison and I watched "Starsky and Hutch" on HBO. At 10:30 we were finally ready to go, so we piled into our cars and pulled out of the driveway. It was great knowing that we were headed to one of my favorite places in the world! My Grandma was waiting on her porch (she and my Grandpa live across the street from us), so we waved to her right as we turned the corner and drove off the block. We were finally on our way!

We stopped a few blocks away at a Mobil station that recently opened a new "On the Go" convenience store. My mom, Aunt Stacy, and Alan ran in to get coffee and then we got going. Not to another diner or a convenience store, but finally on our way to Pennsylvania! There was no traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, as usual, and after driving about an hour into Jersey we stopped at one of the rest stops. We took a bathroom break, got some mini cinnamon buns from Cinnabon and looked at the bags, pocketbooks and sunglasses that were being sold outside. They were pretty nice and Aunt Stacy wound up buying a pair of sunglasses.

We continued driving through Jersey until we got to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It was starting to rain and I got upset since we had planned on doing a few outdoor things later that day. It was only a light drizzle, though, so it wasn't too bad. About an hour and a half into Pennsylvania we stopped at another rest stop, this time a McDonald's. We all ran in to use the bathroom and get some fries and drinks for lunch. We then continued driving down the Pennsylvania Turnpike, listening to the radio along the way. Every time a good song came on my mom would call my Aunt Stacy to tell her what station to put on, and then we'd look at their car behind us to see Aunt Stacy dancing in the passenger seat! It was hilarious!

We drove for another two hours before finally arriving in Lancaster at 2:00! But it wasn't exactly smooth sailing... we were looking for Rt. 30 which would turn into Lincoln Highway East, the street that our hotel was on. We took Rt. 30 West, which was the way we were supposed to go as stated on our AAA TripTik, and drove for ten minutes without the road turning into Lincoln Highway East. According to our map it should have happened already, so we went back to where we started and went down Rt. 30 East thinking that this road would lead to Lincoln Highway East. They were both east so it made sense. We drove for fifteen minutes and then saw signs that we were going back up north towards Philadelphia, so we turned back around again and continued driving on Rt.30 West until we finally found Lincoln Highway East. If we had only driven a minute or two farther than we had the first time we would have seen that we were going the right way. We still weren't sure exactly where the hotel was so we stopped at an Arby's on Lincoln Highway East to use the bathroom before we continued driving and found the hotel, the Lincoln Host Resort, no more than a quarter of a mile up the road.   Close

BODIES – The ExhibitionCarnegie Science CenterPittsburgh, PABODY WORLDS is the world renowned exhibit created by Gunter von Hagen that has traveled the world bringing the human body in its most basic form to illustrate how it functions. Using a technology called “plastination” human bodies…Read More

BODIES – The Exhibition
Carnegie Science Center
Pittsburgh, PA

BODY WORLDS is the world renowned exhibit created by Gunter von Hagen that has traveled the world bringing the human body in its most basic form to illustrate how it functions. Using a technology called “plastination” human bodies are preserved to allow scientists to show muscle tissues, organs, skeletal structure and the circulatory system. BODIES – The Exhibition is a copy-cat production using the same process to preserve human cadavers for illustrating the complexity and wonderment of our body.

I spent about an hour touring through the various areas of this very interesting, and at times thought provoking, exhibit. Starting with some rather basic displays of the human skeletal and muscular systems, it was easy to become comfortable with what seemed to be an uncomfortable air of voyeurism looking at the human form in its rawest, most basic form . . . bare and naked.

As someone who has her own health concerns, to learn about and see anatomically accurate illustrations through real human bodies gave many reasons to pause for reflection. Not a smoker myself, I cannot imagine the impact of seeing an actual lung blackened and destroyed through cigarette smoking would be to a current smoker. To see a breast ravaged by cancer only served to remind me of how fortunate I am that I have not had breast cancer hit women of my family.

I have always wondered about the uterine fibroids that continue to pain me so to see one preserved through plastination, I thought “I need to donate my body to science so that they can display what I have since mine is roughly twice the size of the one on display.” I was also very interested in seeing the structure of the lungs and how they work when healthy and how disease hampers them from feeding our body with life’s substance - - oxygen.

Perhaps one of the potentially most disturbing areas of the exhibit was immediately after the reproductive organs display. Once sperm meets egg, a single cell exists for about 30 minutes before splitting and duplicating creating the embryo that some 40 weeks later arrives as a small bundle of joy. In the area that has preserved fetuses as young as a couple of weeks after conception . . . and as fully developed as a baby at full term. They also have a couple of specimens of fetuses with birth defects including a cleft lip as well as one with spina bifida. I had to take a seat and clear my head after seeing this section of the exhibition. For those who may not want to see these specimens, there is a side entrance that by-passes this hall and takes you to the next area.

I think in total there were 15 full body specimens that illustrate muscle structure, the full digestive tract from mouth to anus and other full systems including the circulatory system complete with heart and lungs. There were three bodies featuring sports poses including a tennis server, a volleyball player digging a spike and a soccer player doing a bicycle kick. To see their muscles fully flexed in sport was very interesting. I cannot do justice in trying to explain the detail that this plastination process allows you to view the human body. You really must see it for yourself.

Admission fee for BODIES – The Exhibition is a separate fee from the main Carnegie Science Center. There is no price break if you’re not interested in the science center itself, save your $14. Admission prices for the BODIES exhibit is $22 for adults and $16 for kids ages 3 – 12. Carnegie Science Center members receive a discounted rate of $14 and $10 respectively. There is no price break for seniors at this exhibit. Exhibition hours are 10:00am – 9:00pm daily, except on Steelers’ home game days, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

NOTE: They do not permit taking photos in exhibit area.

HIGHLY Recommended!
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In 1754/55 General Braddock with his young subordinate George Washington began the construction of a road through the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania. Its purpose was to allow the movement of troops, artillery and supplies into the area that was disputed with the French around the…Read More

In 1754/55 General Braddock with his young subordinate George Washington began the construction of a road through the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania. Its purpose was to allow the movement of troops, artillery and supplies into the area that was disputed with the French around the area of Fort Duquesne. (Present day Pittsburgh.) This road would later become the basis for the new National Road that was coming through from Baltimore.

In 1806 the Federal Government authorized the national Highway. Construction began in 1811 and by 1818 it had reached Wheeling Virginia. It continued out as far as Vandalia Ill. Congress was no longer willing to appropriate funds so it became up to the states to continue and maintain the road.

The major impact of the National Road was that it opened up the Ohio Valley and the west to settlement. For over forty years this was the main route that wagons and settlers used to get from the east coast into the newly opened territories. A Conestoga wagon could expect to travel up to 15 miles a day and a stage about 4 times faster. Thousands of people followed the national road and along the way major cities sprang up.

In the 1850s the railroad reached Pittsburgh and this led to the decline of travel along the road. It took the advent of the motor car to bring about a revival of travel along the national road. When the highway system was establish the new route 40 was given a route that followed quite closely the old National Road. Depending on what your age is traveling route 40 will bring back childhood memories, I know it did for me. This road meanders through bucolic towns and over hills and dales, and if you are in a hurry it’s the last road you want to be on. It was a really nice change from speeding along on the Interstate.

In Pennsylvania you can find one of the original tollbooths as well as road mile markers. Inns were a vital part of the National Road in it’s heyday and you can still visit some of these Inns today both to eat and to sleep. We ate dinner at the Century Inn in Scenic Hill which began its life as Hill’s Tavern.

Traveling west before you reach scenic hill you will pass the Madonna of the Trails, a monument erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution to honor of the women who followed the trails west.

Driving the Lincoln Highway (route 30) was quite an experience. For the most part it goes through a very rural part of Pennsylvania. What took us by surprise were the mountains we had to go over during our drive. It was as green and mountainous as some parts of Vermont, and there were a couple of sections of hair raising turns and excessively steep road. Be prepared for quite a ride.    Close

Fort Necessity If ever there was an aptly named fort, this certainly was it. Constructed by the young George Washington in 1754 it was with the certainty that the French and their Indian allies would be coming to seek revenge for the massacre of their…Read More

Fort Necessity If ever there was an aptly named fort, this certainly was it. Constructed by the young George Washington in 1754 it was with the certainty that the French and their Indian allies would be coming to seek revenge for the massacre of their compatriots by the British at Jumonville Glen. That particular incident was to haunt Washington for the rest of his life and to leave him with the certainty that he caused the French and Indian War to escalate into a global conflict. A single conflict between two groups of soldiers both itching for a fight had repercussions felt round the world.

What happened at Fort Necessity was a defeat for the English and a much needed victory for the French. On July 3, 1754, after a one day battle, Washington surrendered the Fort and as part of the surrender was required to sign a document that admitted his part in the massacre at Jumonville Glen, calling it an assassination. Washington always claimed he was told that it translated as death or killing but the French had a powerful weapon and they used it.

Today Fort Necessity, Jumonville Glen, Braddock’s Grave, and Mt. Washington’s Tavern are all part of the Park Department and are close enough to all be visited at one time.

Mt. Washington Tavern is located on route 40 and shortly after it you turn down and drive into the woods to find the visitor center. In the visitor center there is a film to watch which last about a half hour. There are also live interpreters who give talks at different times during the day. Be sure to check the schedule with the rangers in the visitor center. There is also a very nice museum at the visitor center.

The Tavern closes the earliest so we went there first. You can walk through the woods or there is a parking lot close to the Tavern. This has nothing really to do with Fort Necessity but it is interesting nonetheless. It was a stage stop on the national Road and you get to see what the sleeping, eating, and drinking arrangement would have been like. There are guides inside to answer any questions you may have.

We tried to time everything perfectly so we went next to listen to the interpreter who was a French soldier in our case. I found this of particular interest since I lost a French Ancestor in the French and Indian War. We were sitting out in the woods so wear bug spray on trees and we had to walk down a dirt path through the woods. You will see a reconstruction of the fort off on your right. Try to listen to the interpreter, he was fascinating and very interactive with the children in our group. His talk lasts about a half hour.

After sitting in the heat it was nice to watch the movie in an air-conditioned theater.

Braddocks Grave is located a couple of miles down route 40 from Fort Necessity. General Edward Braddock was a career soldier. He had 45 years of military service when he was assigned the task of taking Fort Duquesne which is located where on the point of land where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet, in other words today’s Pittsburgh. The General came with two regiments infantry and with the colonials forces and some Indians he had 2,400 men. One of the Colonials was George Washington. They organized in Maryland and headed out on the road that Washington had blazed the previous year. Washington’s road however was not wide enough to accommodate the wagons and the artillery that Braddock had with him so they had to begin by creating a better road (this is the beginnings of the national Highway).

This was slow work and it resulted in the army splitting and only part moving ahead. The consequence was a resounding defeat by the French. Of the 1,400 men engaged in this battle 900 died (casualties on the British side). Many officers were killed and general Braddock was fatally wounded. The troupes retreated taking their wounded General with them. They retreated back to near Great Meadow. General Braddock died 4 days later and was buried in the middle of the road he had built with George Washington saying the committal service. The men then road their horses and wagons over the grave to hide it.

Fifty years later human bones were found where Braddock was supposed to have been buried and they were taken and interred on a small knoll nearby and the monument that you see today was erected in 1913.

The monument is close enough to the road to see when driving by. There is a parking lot and as you go down the stairs look to the right. You will see a path leading into the woods and if you follow it , you will arrive at the spot where the General was originally buried.

If you are in the mood for more you can follow the signs to Jumonville Glen and walk to the spot where the French and Indian War really began. When we got there it had already closed so we were not able to walk to the spot. We did however read all the available plaques.   Close

The urge to visit Erie, Pa., tends to be strongest in the fall, mostly because there’s splendor in the park—the 3,200-acre Presque Isle State Park, that is. In fact, there’s plenty to do here year-round—though in winter, be prepared for plenty of snow.The Presque Isle…Read More

The urge to visit Erie, Pa., tends to be strongest in the fall, mostly because there’s splendor in the park—the 3,200-acre Presque Isle State Park, that is. In fact, there’s plenty to do here year-round—though in winter, be prepared for plenty of snow.

The Presque Isle peninsula was formed as sand and sediment accumulated on a glacial moraine. There's a well-developed road system of about 13 miles that loop around the park, and paved hiking/biking trails wind their way around Lake Erie. Across Presque Isle Bay, which creates a harbor for the port city of Erie, is a wonderful view of the downtown skyline.

Erie boasts three lighthouses; arguably the most notable is the picturesque Presque Isle Lighthouse in the park. Built in 1872, it’s the second lighthouse to be built on Lake Erie's American shores. The first also is on Presque Isle: the Erie Harbor Pierhead, also known as the Presque Isle North Pier, on the north side of the entrance to Erie Harbor. This black-and-white cast iron tower is far from spectacular, but it is the only remaining US lighthouse in this design.

The third, the 49-foot sandstone Erie Lane Lighthouse, is on the other side of town on Lighthouse Street in Dunn Park. Entered into service in 1818, this lighthouse shares the distinction, with the original lighthouse in Buffalo, NY, of being the first on Lake Erie.

There’s a another reason to visit Erie—the new Tom Ridge Environmental Center near the park entrance. This 65,000-square-foot center features a 75-foot glass-enclosed tower with a deck that offers a great view of Lake Erie, plus a theatre and a nature shop. When the weather cooperates, pick up a box lunch at the center’s Sunset Café for munching at a picnic table on one of the park’s soft-sand beaches.

For those with youngsters in tow, there’s Waldameer Amusement Park Water Park, located at the entrance of Presque Isle State Park.

Be sure to head downtown to the Bayfront and the top of the Bicentennial Tower for a panoramic and color-filled view of the city’s skyline, Presque Isle, and Lake Erie. This summer marks the opening of the new Bayfront Convention Center, a maritime-style meeting hall and ballroom.

Peek in the Erie Maritime Museum next door where, from September through May, the US Brig Niagara—a fully reconstructed version of the vessel Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry sailed during his victory at Put-in-Bay in the War of 1812—is docked for public viewing. She’s quite a magnificent lady.

Dinner might be Lake Erie perch or walleye at Smuggler’s Wharf back in the Bayfront area on State Street. Or, head to Peach Street to Quaker Steak & Lube, one of our all-time favorite restaurant chains that’s headquartered in Sharon, Pa., about 15 minutes from our northeastern Ohio home (I highly recommend the parmesan pepper wing sauce).   Close