A Day in Ligonier Valley with Fort Ligonier and Several Museums in the area
My day in Ligonier Valley was incredible. The drive along the Lincoln Highway was covered with beautiful water ways, trees, and other fun stuff to look at.
Located about 50 miles away from Pittsburgh, Ligonier Valley has both been shaped and helped shaped the America that we know. It was the road to the west.
In one day, you can go from history from the British Colony to the stage coach to the rail road to the automobile and how this little place opened up the the east to the west with Native American/Canada trails, stage coach stops, trains, and roads for automobiles.
The Fort and the most museums are just a hop, skip, and a jump away on the same one to two lane highway or off to the side. The easiest way to see them all is to start at the Lincoln Highway Experience and end at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in between see Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum, Compass Inn Museum, Fort Ligonier, and the Antiochian Heritage Museum.
Note: If you follow this route, you will drive pass the Fort but your going back in history as you go.
Brief History
Ligonier Valley is lush green landscape with rolling hills that was once full of beavers, foxes, white tail deer, bobcats, bear, elk, wolves, lots of birds, river otters, and so many more animals.
Ligonier Valley was also the place where travelers moved from East to West and back again. It was like the Silk Road for North America.
Native North Americans used this area for trading with other Native North Americans before the Europeans arrived. The Europeans, French and British, moved in fighting over the land and over hunting the resources such as beaver skins. The British built forts through out the area and created the Forbes roads by clearing the land to fight the French in the Pittsburgh area.
Forbes road supplied Fort Ligonier during the French and Indian War around the 1750’s using many of the old native trails. After the French and Indian War, Forbes Road became a way for transporting supplies and trading goods to and from the west and a route for settlers heading to or towards the west coast in wagons.
Then the stagecoach used the same road ways to move people and supplies quickly across the country. Next, the rail road was used to carry out coal, quarry stone, lumber, and other natural supplies between 1877 and 1952.
In 1912, the Ligonier Valley became part of the Lincoln Highway which was one of the earliest transcontinental highways for automobiles in the the U.S. starting in New York City to San Francisco. Plus it started Americas love of the family vacation in vehicles.
Following the below itinerary and go back through history starting with American obsession with automobiles to Rail Roads to Stagecoaches and Wagon Trains to the Fort that supported the British battle against the French. See the local history for an incredible day of history and fun.
Lincoln Highway Experience
The Lincoln Highway Experience is a museum about the Lincoln Highway which in 1913 was the first coast to coast highway from New York City to San Francisco. The Lincoln Highway start American tourism by automobile.
Location: 3435 State Route 30 East, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, 15650
Hours: 10 am to 4 pm but the door is locked at 3 pm
Cost: $14 for Adults and $5 for child 7 to 17; but this includes 60 page Lincoln Highway Driving Guide, a Lincoln Highway postcard with stamp (but you have to write out the postcard before you leave), a piece of pie, and a cup of coffee.
The museum include a wonderful orientation film, photos of landmarks along the Lincoln Highway, a train car which is a restaurant for you to eat in (Serro’s Diner), and a lot of amazing stuff. It also has a room that just young children to play in if you need a bit of a rest.
In addition, this museum is also housed in Johnston House which was once used as a tavern, a relay station for stagecoaches, and a restaurant during the automobile hay day. Travelers would stop including two Presidents, Taylor and Harrison, for food, punch, and a bit of rest.
Brief History
The Johnston House was build by Alexander Johnston who fled Ireland after he asked a girl’s father for her hand in marriage, the father refused consent, Alexander punched him, and was to be arrested for the assault. I am thinking that he is a bit more then just punched him but it is what it is.
Alexander Johnston was an interesting man and had an interesting family. The following are some brief facts about him:
- He was born on July 10, 1773
- His related was General William Irvine who served both in Continental Congress and the US House of Representatives
- Married Elizabeth Freame and had eight sons and two daughter
- William F. Johnston, 3rd Governor of Pennsylvania, was one of his sons
- All his sons where over 6 feet to 6 feet 6 inches tall
- He served in several elected and appointed offices government offices including as sheriff, treasurer, etc.
- He was a Federalist
- He was the oldest living Freemason in the United State at the time of his death
- He was a life time reader
- He live to be 99 years old and 6 days, dying on July 16, 1872
The item that I enjoyed the most is that he was know use polished manners, remembered historical events, and chatted with the youth around him. He stayed young by being young and always learning.
Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum
The Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum is a pleasant little place to visit. It is run completely by volunteers who are interest in the Rail Road so it is only open on Saturdays.
Location: 3032 Idlewild Hill Lane, Ligonier, PA 15658. If you pass Idlewild after leaving the Lincoln Highway Experance then you have gone to far.
Hours: Saturday only from 11 am to 3 pm
Cost: Adults $5, Children through High School $3, 5 & under Free
It has a video to watch and a collection of rail road items. The caboose is very neat and they have a small children’s train for children to ride around in.
Brief History
The museum building is the original Ligonier Valley Rail Road station built in 1896. The Ligonier Valley Rail Road was found by Judge Thomas Mellon, Andrew Mellon father, who was the founder of Mellon Bank and a picnic park call Idlewild.
The Rail Road started operations in 1877 and had its last run in 1952. The rail road was used for many things but the train station location next to the Idlewild park was no accident.
The Mellon family developed it as a picnic grove to boost traffic to the Rail Road and in 1931, it became an amusement plark with rides, entertainment, and other attractions. Idlewild is still operating today and is country’s 3rd oldest amusement park. If your spending more then a day, I would go to the Idlewild. I hear that it is a lot of fun.
Compass Inn Museum
The Compass Inn Museum is a quaint little place to visit. The Compass Inn was a stagecoach stop from 1820 until 1862. I enjoyed my time here. It was like stepping into the past.
Location: 1382 Route 30 East, Laughlinton, PA 15655
Hours: 11 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm Sunday May to October; 3 pm to 7 pm Candle Light Tours Weekends only November to Mid December
Cost: $9 Adults; $6 Students through high school; 6 & under Fee; Offer Senior Discount
The Compass Inn offers tours throughout the property with informative guides. In the Inn, the tour starts with the dining room with a wonderful chat about the property and the history of the stage coach.
After seeing the inn, there are several outbuilding including the blacksmith, barn, cookhouse, etc. In the Cookhouse, a guide talks about the cooking and has samples of food that the inn would served when it was open. The blacksmith shop and the barn also have guides to talk about these area of interest.
The guides are dressed in costumes and are the warmest knowledgeable guides that I have meet in a long time. One of the guide is actually a descendant of the Armors.
Brief History
The Compass Inn was built by the Phillip Freeman in 1799 and used as a place for men who drove animals to market. In 1814, the Armor’s purchase the inn, renamed it the Compass Inn.
In 1862, the railroad had taken over and the stagecoach business was over. The Armors closed the inn but the family used it for 7 generations until it was sold to the Ligonier Valley Historical Society in 1966.
Fort Ligonier
Fort Ligonier was built in 1758, by the British as a jumping off point to attack on the French in the Pittsburgh area. It has over a 100,000 thousand people travel to it each year for the reenactment of the 1758 Battle usually during October for a three day festival.
Location: 200 South Market Street, Ligonier, PA 15658
Hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday; 11 am to 5 pm Sunday; November to Mid March open only Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Cost: $12 Adults; $10 Senior over 62; $10 Students 17-21; $6 Children 6-16; Free for children under 5, Active Military, Veterans & Law Enforcement
Additional Programs: Birthday Parties, Escape Room, and if you can get a group of over 10 people together, Sleepover at the Fort in either in one of the historic buildings or in a tent for $40 per person plus for $5 more per person they have musket firing, talking with a soldier, candle dipping, etc.
The Fort includes a gallery of art work with famous faces of the Forts time such as George Washington in his 20’s; exhibits including uniforms, items found at the site, the parlor of Arthur St. Clair (elected President of the Continental Congress in 1787), and many other items. The museum include a little area for children to play soldier in and a room devoted to George Washington.
The Fort grounds include reconstructed building of the Fort during the 8 years that it was open during the French and Indian War.
Brief History
Fort Ligonier was the communication, supply and a jumping off point for the British to attack the French during the French and Indian War. Attacked several times, the Fort it was never taken by an enemy.
General Forbes was assigned to seize Fort Duquesne, in downtown Pittsburgh now, and he in turn created a road and several forts including Fort Ligonier to obtain is objection. .
General Forbes was seriously ill during his time at the fort in 1758. But in November 1758, he and his men including George Washington marched towards Fort Duquesne.
The French, knowing they where outnumbered, burned down Fort Duquesne and left before General Forbes and his men arrived.
Forbes ordered the building of Fort Pitt but left in December to go back to Philadelphia as his health was rapidly decreasing. He died in March 1759.
Town Circle
After leaving the Fort, I head up the hill for to the Town Square or traffic circle. It is a nice little place that includes an ice cream shop, a church, a library, a bit of shopping, lots of great places to eat, and a wonderful area to sit and relax in. They also have a Subway and a Fox’s Pizza, if you are looking for a chain restaurant about a block away.
The library has several nice little reading areas including one that looks out on to the street, a place to power up your lap top or cell phone, books for purchase, and is a nice to relax for a bit.
The Diamond Cam is live if you want to see what traffic is like or if they have an event going on…lol
Antiochian Heritage Museum
The Antiochian Heritage Museum is in a hotel/retreat with a restaurant. The grounds have hiking trails for the spiritual retreat and a sport area for retreat games during the summer.
Location: 140 Church Camp Trail, Bolivar, PA 15923
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm; Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm and by appointment
Cost: Free but donation are welcome
Note: They are very interested in anyone that might wish to donate to the museum items as they have more room to grow the museum.
The museum includes hand embroidered items, inlaid wood furniture, a collection of painted eggs, a bit of history on leaders, and much more. The site also holds the remains of Saint Raphael Bishop of Brooklyn.
Saint Raphael was born in Beirut (Lebanon, today) in 1860. He studied in the Russian Empire and was sent to America in 1895, by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia to administer the local Orthodox Christian Community. He served as the Bishop of Brooklyn until his death.
I loved the furniture. The details of the mother of pearl that was inland in the table was incredible. Plus the long hallway included pictures of historical sites. They were wonderful to look at.
Brief History
During my visit, they had art supplies for the children to making a crown. One of the pastors of church was on hand to give a details about the crowning service during a marriage ceremony.
The Orthodox Christian Wedding is rich in tradition and symbolism which is actually two services, the Betrothal service and the Wedding or Crowning service. The Orthodox Christians believe that it is God who unites the couple and the church recognizes and blesses the union God created between the couple.
The betrothal service is the civil union part of the ceremony which recognizes that the couple comes with free will to each other. The couple enters the church together from the outside world and moves into the church for the blessing to enter the world to come, i.e the after life.
Couples do not exchange vows during an Orthodox service but rather they have come to the Church to be recognized by God. The priest prays for the couple to have a perfect life together, salvation, and to bless the children from their union. Rings are exchanged after the priest blesses the ring three time for the father, the son, and the holy spirit.
Then the Wedding Service beginning with couple offer their lives together to God for his blessing. The priest joins their right hands to symbolize their union and the couple holds hand for the rest of the service. The priest blesses the Crowns and then crowns the couple.
The crowning of the couple means that they have taken their place as King and Queen in their marital kingdom and they have come into Kingdom of God plus the couple bears witness to Christ in their lives. The crowns award them eternal life if they guard their virtue in their marriage.
The preist read scriptures, Ephesians 5:20-33 and St. John 2:1-11. The couple drinks from the Common Cup to signify the sharing of their lives together. The priest leads the couple in the dance of Isaiah. The priest removes the crowns and put them on the Gospel offering the marriage to the Lord.
The wedding service does not include “until death do us part” as for the the Orthodox marriage is considered eternal relationship that begins in this world and is perfected in God’s Kingdom. Even death has no power to separate the couple.
The last part of is offering the guest sugar coated almonds. Representing the endurance of the marriage and the hope of sweetness for the couples future life together.
I am sure I am missing a few steps but this sounds like a wonderful way for people to enter into marriage with a deep commitment to each other, their community, and their god.