Have you ever wondered where the first colonial settlement in northwest Pennsylvania was located? Well, look no further than Meadville. In 1787, at the age of 36, David Mead and his brother, John, built a log cabin on the bank of French Creek, which became the first building of a new settlement.
The current David Mead Log Cabin in Meadville's Bicentennial Park is a replica of the original structure, constructed with a split-room design—one room for the family residence and the other for storage. It is also the site of one of the first schoolrooms in the area. David's second wife, Jeannette Finney, began teaching classes here shortly after their marriage.
During the month of May, trained docents conduct classes for area students in the schoolroom as they would have been taught 200 years ago. The cabin is also available by appointment for tours to community groups and organizations.
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Located in Meadville, the Baldwin-Reynolds House was once home to Supreme Court Justice Henry Baldwin (1780-1840) and, at other times, two of Meadville's mayors. Purchased by the Meadville Historical Society, the house now includes an ice house, tannery, garden, and spring-fed pond.
Probably one of the most extensive historical sites in northwest Pennsylvania, the Drake Well Museum in Titusville is located on the site of the birthplace of the modern oil industry. In 1859, Edwin Drake struck oil here, which has become one of our most valued resources.
The Cambridge Springs Historical Museum documents the years of the mineral water boom. Its displays of artifacts, relics, momentos, and changing exhibits fill the first and second floors of the 1908 City Hall building.
South of Linesville on Hartstown Road is the Linesville Fish Hatchery, a fun place for people of all ages to learn about fish cultivation and get close up and personal with the fish in the observation tank.
The Blue Heron Art Gallery and Cultural Center was formed in June 2007 under the auspices of the Volant Community Development Corporation.