Come to Fort Ligonier and journey back two centuries to a place where the flag of His Majesty King George still flies! Relive the stirring days of young Colonel George Washington and General John Forbes and the encounters of the British and Americans against the French and Indians.
Westmoreland
Pick an outdoor activity, and nine times out of ten, you can do it in Westmoreland County. It has federal parks, state parks, county parks, and local parks—acres and acres of beautiful green parklands designed to accommodate enthusiasts of all ages.
Westmoreland County also has lakes, mountains, hiking trails, rivers, and campgrounds. You can hunt, fish, swim, ski, kayak, go white water rafting, biking, hiking, canoeing, and snowmobiling. And, of course, you can picnic to your heart's content. Choose from one of the National Parks: Conemaugh River Lake, north of New Alexandria (6,756-acre area) or Loyalhanna Lake, between New Alexandria and Saltsburg (3700 acres with 400-acre lake).
Of course, there is no shortage of golf courses. Golfers can enjoy the region's beauty on several challenging or not-so-challenging courses throughout the area. To find out more about both private and public courses in Westmoreland County.
Are you bringing guests or business associates to the area? Lodging accommodations are available to suit any budget or personal preference. Visitors may choose the quaint and rustic Mountain View Inn or one of the various bed and breakfast facilities located in the area.
Business visitors will find a wide range of well-known hotel chains represented here, such as the Greensburg Four Points Hotel, the Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Knights Inn, and Holiday Inn Express. Several lodging facilities are equipped to handle business guests, meetings, and conferences.
Recreation and tourism are big business in Westmoreland County. In 1998, approximately $302,074,000.00 was spent here on travel and tourism. The industry also provides 4,400 jobs for local residents. For more information on recreation and lodging in Westmoreland County.
Museums
Hanna's Town, founded in 1773 and named for its founder Robert Hanna, was the first County Seat of Westmoreland County and the site of the first English court west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Westmoreland Museum of American Art has a significant and distinctive collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and more. Its collection beautifully describes the heritage of our nation and region and is designed to enrich, enlighten, and delight viewers of all ages.
The opening of western Pennsylvania to settlement was the result of a decisive victory over the Native Americans at the Battle of Bushy Run, August 5th and 6th, 1763.
Victorian Vandergrift Museum is located in the Old Sherman School, 184 Sherman Avenue in Vandergrift, which is currently undergoing massive renovations for our use.
The Compass Inn is a place to receive an informative and entertaining tour by costumed docents that tells the story of transportation and everyday life in the early 1800's. The tour delivers "history with a smile" by incorporating a generous sprinkling of etymology (word and phrase origins).
It began decades ago, when Jim Delligatti became one of the very first franchisees of a fledgling restaurant chain. He opened Western Pennsylvania's first McDonald's restaurant and grew that single site into a hugely successful three-generation business.
With a permanent collection of more than 750 items, the Antiochian Heritage Museum offers visitors a fascinating look at the textiles, inlaid woodwork, metal crafts, jewelry, and religious art of the Near East.
Organizations
The Historical Society publishes a quarterly journal of history, Westmoreland History, and a monthly newsletter, Westmoreland Chronicle. It is governed by a policy-making Board of Directors. A paid, full-time Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Society.
The Latrobe Area Historical Society of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, is dedicated to the collection, study and documentation of the Latrobe community's heritage and to the preservation of local history and its ethnic roots.Periodically the Society offers to the public special programs of his
The mission of the Ligonier Valley Historical Society discover, collect, preserve and disseminate any material which will help to establish or illustrate the exploration, settlement, development and general history of the Ligonier Valley area.
The Victorian Vandergrift Historical Society is located in the Vandergrift Historic District Visitor Center and houses Vandergrift's largest collection of local history references. This collection includes books, maps, microfiche, and other articles of interest to historians and genealogists.