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, bike, hike, canoe, and snowmobile. 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 a 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, including the Greensburg Four Points Hotel, 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 businesses in Westmoreland County. There are many museums, historic forts, and villages that allow us to learn about the lives of early settlers and the industrialization period.
Museums
Founded in 1773, Hanna's Town was named for its originator, Robert Hanna. It was the foremost 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 over 750 items, the Antiochian Heritage Museum offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the textiles, inlaid woodwork, metal crafts, jewelry, and religious art of the Near East.
Mount Pleasant Glass Museum celebrates three glass companies from Mount Pleasant: Bryce, Lenox, and L.E. Smith. Among our treasures are the first headlight lenses made for the Model T and blown and cut crystal glassware used in the White House from the 1920s to the present day.
The Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum is located in a restored station, focusing on the history of the LVRR. Includes authentic bobber caboose.The museum, maintained by Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association, is a non-profit corporation that was organized to:
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley is the perfect setting for a stroll, either outside surrounded by our beautiful flower gardens or inside amongst our rotating exhibitions of American art.
The mission of the West Overton Museums is to illustrate the history of West Overton Village, its distillery, coal and coke heritage, and the birthplace of Henry Clay Frick.
G Squared Gallery is a decorative shop and gallery located in Ligonier. Nicely nestled into the corner between Citizens Bank and The Creamery, you can’t miss its vibrant storefront decor and festive window.
Organizations
Founded in 1908, the Westmoreland County Historical Society is dedicated to promoting and fostering knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of history in general, as well as all aspects of the history of Westmoreland County and its people, including those areas within its former boundaries.
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.
Founded in 1995, the Derry Area Historical Society is located in the beautiful, scenic western Pennsylvania region at the foot of the Chestnut Ridge in New Derry, Pennsylvania. It is based at the historic Fulton House.
The objectives of the Greater Monessen Historical Society shall be to study, collect, and preserve for the City historical records and antiquities relating to the history of Monessen and environs and its people; to preserve items of current events that may have historical interest in the future;
Jeannette Area Historical Society intends to collect any memorabilia, photographs, articles, materials, or items about the city of Jeannette and the surrounding area, including but not restricted to Grapeville, West Jeannette, Lincoln Heights, Penn, Penn Twp., and Hempfield Twp.
Thanks to the Chestnut Ridge Historical Society's archives, many have discovered their roots in the Chestnut Ridge area through our unique collection of early 20th-century photos and official documents.