A Day Trip to Caledonia State Park in Pennsylvania
Caledonia State Park is a wonderful little place to the visit and the second oldest State Park in Pennsylvania. It includes a campgrounds, a trail that will take you to several old furnace sites, an old furnace, a stone makers shop, the Appalachian Trail, a pool, and so much more!
The Caledonia State Park only has 10 miles of trail but one of the trails is 1.8 miles of the Appalachian Trail which is over 2,000 miles long which runs from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. If you have some time and a cold drink, be an Trail Angel and wait by the trail to talk to those on the trail and give them that cold drink or hot coffee if it is morning. The through hikers are almost or just passed the half way point at Pine Grove Furnace State Park which is 17 miles up the road.
Thaddeus Stevens Historic Trail
As you arrive at the parking lot, the furnace is right there it’s not even a hike! It was built in 1837 by Thaddeus Stevens and James Paxton. But in 1863, General Jubal Early destroyed most of the furnaces due to Thaddeus Stevens antislavery stand less then a week before the Gettysburg battle started.
But climb the side at least and look down. Totally cool!
On the side of the furnace is the Thaddeus Stevens Historic Trail which takes you to this pond, several other furnace sites, and some other cool places.
This was a great trail to hike and is under a mile long.
At the end of the trail is this great little place to dip your feet in on a hot day.
It’s just a little slice of heaven. As I walked down the trail it was just one little new thing after another. There was another trial that I had started but I decided to set turn back due to the heat. But when I was visiting the ranger station. I found out that there was a bear sighting, so I’m glad skipped the second hike.
Thaddeus Stevens Blacksmith Shop
Across the street from the furnace is the Thaddeus Stevens Blacksmith Shop which was built in 1837 by John Paxton and Thaddens Stevens. After the Gettysburg Battle only the stone walls remain of the Caledonia Iron Works but Congressman Thaddens Stevens paid unemployed workers for several years afterwards. The Blacksmith Shop was rebuilt and remain in operations until 1895.
The shop has reinvented itself over the years as a park office, trolley station, pool concession, and a museum. Today, it is part of the parks museum and has guest Blacksmiths hammer out iron items for visitors.
Places to Visit around the Caledonia State Park
This is a great place to spend the day or just a couple of hours if that’s all the time you have. This is also great place to camp if you want a place to stay and visit Gettysburg as Gettysburg is only 15 miles away.
In addition, you are very close to Franklin County which has the house Abolitionist John Brown planned his raid on Harpers Farry armory plus about 4 doors down an Old Jail. Both offer tours! Look for my blog on the Old Jail and the John Brown house.
Also, check out the other State Parks around. Mont Alto State Park which is the first State Park in Pennsylvania and very close by, Michaux State Forest which is all around the Caledonia State Park, and Pine Grove Furnace State Park which is about 30 minutes away. Check for my blog on more information on all of them coming soon.
Camping
The park has two camp ground areas which include sites with nothing, electric, and full hook up sites. The park also has a dumping station and showers. Plus they have wood for sell so you don’t have to bring your own.
Camping sites run from $27.50 up to $56.50 per night. Also, one site allows pets and the other does not for those with pets and others that have allergies or fears of pets.
Also, if you are just around for the day and need a shower and/or a dump station, the park offers both at $4 per person for a shower and $10 PA resident and $11 for out of state resident. But free if you are camping in the park.
Brief History
Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, nicknamed “the Great Commoner”, is a figure that has been demonized through our historical records. He is the father of the fourteen Amendment which granted rights and liberties to former slaves, helped push through the 13th amendment which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, and he played a major part in financing the Civil War with a system that endured until in 1913, the Federal Reserve System was created fifty years later.
He was known for his abolitionist activities before the Civil War which had General Early destroy the furances at this park. The General went so far as to say that had he found Stevens, he would have had him killed and his bones scattered throughout the South.
Stevens not only wanted slavery abolished but he want former slaves to be given equal rights and land in the South after the Civil War ended. Stevens was a leader in the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson and pushing for universal education (i.e. free public education of all) during his political career.
Stevens was know as a “radical” at the time but in reality, he was just a man that was trying to evoke change. The laws that he was trying to get changed for the African Americans included not only them but Native Americans as well. He was a man of vision who gave everything that he had to try and achieve equality to all.
But the history books have largely portrayed him in a negative light as a radical politician who was motivated to destroy the South after the Civil War. But the reality is he was trying to create a more equal environment for people of all races. His life needs to be reexamined and the history books rewritten with truth. Because truth is not black and white but different shades of gray.