Pennsylvania General Information Nickname: Keystone State State bird: Ruffed Grouse State flower: Mountain Laurel Capital: Harrisburg Date of admission to the Union: 12th Dec 1787 (original 13 States; date of ratification of the Constitution) Population: 12,281,054 (2000) Population density: 102.9/sq km 2000 total overseas arrivals/US ranking: 649,000/12 Time: Eastern (GMT - 5). Daylight Saving Time is observed. The State: Pennsylvania is a region steeped in colourful history. It started out as the ‘Holy Experiment’ of Quaker activist William Penn, Jr. Granted a charter by King Charles II to develop a colony in the New World, Penn selected a lush wooded portion of the countryside, where he vowed to welcome anyone who believed in God. Less than a century later, the country’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia – now one of the largest cities in the USA – and the American nation was born. A revolution of a very different nature soon followed – the Industrial Revolution. Rich in iron ore, coal and crude oil, Pennsylvania had all the necessary ingredients for a booming steel and iron industry. ‘Hell with the lid off’ was Charles Dickens’ description of Pittsburgh when he visited a city so polluted that street lamps had to be kept on during the day to improve visibility. Today, Pittsburgh is known as a ‘Renaissance city’; what remains of that area is a wealth of cultural and historical landmarks, and the visitor can breathe freely in bright urban landscapes, bustling city sophistication and a great outdoors. Pennsylvania boasts 20 State and one National Forest, 116 State Parks, one Great Lake (Lake Erie), 50 other natural lakes, 2500 man-made lakes, along with thousands of miles of rivers and streams. The state is also something of a cultural mecca, with many world-class museums, while its citizens represent a rich mix of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Travel - International AIR: International airports: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) (website: www.phl.org) is 13km (8 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). The cheapest way to reach the city centre is the SEPTA Airport Express Train, running every 30 minutes to all three city centre stations, 0600-2400 daily. Taxis, hire cars and limousine services are also available. Greater Pittsburgh Airport (website: www.pitairport.com) is 22.5km (14 miles) west of the city centre. Limousine services, taxis, hire cars, a downtown airport shuttle and Port Authority Transit buses are available. Approximate flight times: From London to Philadelphia is 8 hours 20 minutes, and to Pittsburgh is 8 hours 55 minutes. LAKE/RIVER: Pennsylvania has three of the country’s busiest ports within its borders. Philadelphia is the largest freshwater port in the world. Erie is one of the major Great Lakes ports and Pittsburgh is one of the nation’s largest inland ports, providing access to the extensive 1400km (900-mile) US inland waterway system. RAIL: Pennsylvania has dozens of passenger railroads (website: www.parailways.com) in addition to mainline Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com) services. Philadelphia is served by Amtrak’s Acela Express service linking Washington, DC (travel time – 1 hour 35 minutes) with New York City (1 hour 10 minutes) and Boston (5 hours). It also receives Amtrak trains from New Orleans, Miami and Chicago, and NJ Transit trains from Atlantic City. Pittsburgh has daily Amtrak services to Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. See the Illinois and New York sections for examples of travel times on several services passing through these cities. ROAD: Bus: Greyhound (tel: (800) 229 9424; website: www.greyhound.com) is the main service provider. Approximate driving times: From Philadelphia to New York is 2 hours, to Baltimore is 2 hours, to Washington, DC is 3 hours, to Pittsburgh is 6 hours, to Chicago is 14 hours, to Miami is 25 hours, to Dallas is 31 hours, to Los Angeles is 56 hours and to Seattle is 59 hours. From Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls is 4 hours, to Washington, DC is 4 hours, and to Chicago is 8 hours. All times are based on non-stop driving at or below the applicable speed limits. Approximate bus travel times: From Philadelphia to New York is 2 hours, to Washington, DC is 3 hours, to Pittsburgh is 7 hours, to Chicago is 18 hours, to Miami is 30 hours, to Dallas is 37 hours, to Los Angeles is 65 hours, and to Seattle is 74 hours. URBAN: In Philadelphia, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) (website: www.septa.org) has interconnecting buses, trolleys (streetcars), subways and elevated railways. The distinctive PHLASH buses connect most of the city’s major attractions. Introduction PHILADELPHIA: Situated on the Delaware River, Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city in the USA and a vibrant national centre of commerce, industry, medical education, research and the arts, while still preserving quiet pockets of some of the nation’s most historic territory. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in Independence Hall, which stands in the centre of Independence National Historical Park. The glass Liberty Bell Pavilion houses the bell that was sounded at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin Court, where Franklin’s home once stood, houses an underground museum. Other places of interest include the Old City Hall, early home of the US Supreme Court; Christ Church, where Franklin and George Washington once worshipped; Fairmount Park, by the Schuylkill River, one of the USA’s largest city parks; the Philadelphia Museum of Art & Rodin Museum; Penn’s Landing, where State founder William Penn first arrived in 1682; and Valley Forge National Historical Park, just west of the city, one of the most revered shrines of the American Revolution. PITTSBURGH: The second-largest city in the State, Pittsburgh was once the USA’s centre for steel production; however, the steel mills have been replaced by a dramatic skyline of dazzling skyscrapers. With its traditional ethnic spirit, close-knit neighbourhoods, vibrant culture and burgeoning business community, Pittsburgh consistently ranks highly in the listings of America’s most liveable places. The Point State Park Fountain in the Golden Triangle area of central Pittsburgh symbolises the creation of the Ohio River at the meeting of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers. Other attractions include the Carnegie Science Center, with its Museum of Natural History; the University of Pittsburgh’s 42-storey ‘Cathedral of Learning’; and the Heinz History Center, which celebrates west Pennsylvanian history. The Andy Warhol Museum houses over 7000 works of this Pittsburgh-born pop artist. LAUREL HIGHLANDS: Once a retreat of wealthy Pittsburgh industrialists, the Laurel Highlands feature major ski resorts, trout fishing, hiking and biking trails. With its Class III and IV rapids, the Youghiogheny River provides some of the best whitewater rafting in the East. Old Bedford Village offers a living history of the pioneer era, with costumed guides, crafts demonstrations and 40 authentic buildings. The area is also home to two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces: Kentuck Knob and the spectacular Fallingwater. PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COUNTRY: This farmland is home to the world-renowned Amish and Mennonites, the ‘plain people’ who fled religious persecution in Germany (‘Deutschland’ – hence the misnomer ‘Dutch country’) for a simple pastoral life without modern conveniences. The town of Lancaster is closely associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch but the centre of tourism is the town of Intercourse, where, at The People’s Place, films, crafts and interpreters weave the story of these settlers. Detours down side roads are rewarded with glimpses of horse-drawn ploughs and buggies, auctions, antique shops and the occasional private home where the exquisite Amish quilts and crafts are sold. In nearby Hershey is the world’s largest chocolate factory, ‘Chocolatetown USA’, with a visitor’s centre, shopping outlets and an amusement park. Other towns to visit in the region include Lancaster, Lititz, Strasburg, Bird-in-Hand and Ephrata. Harrisburg has a magnificent 650-room State Capitol building. Gettysburg, the famous Civil War battle site, features the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site. POCONO MOUNTAINS: Popular with honeymooners since the early 1800s, the Pocono Mountains and their neighbours to the west – the Endless Mountains – offer breathtaking scenery as well as historical interest. Pennsylvania’s industrial heritage is to be found in this region’s many museums and towns. Honesdale and Wilkes-Barre played pivotal roles in building the coal and railroad industries of America. At Scranton, Steamtown is a museum-in-progress featuring dozens of antique railroad cars and interpretive displays. Seventy-six metres (250ft) below the earth, former miners lead visitors on tours through the Lackawanna Coal Mine for a first-hand account of the lives and times of the miners. About 64km (40 miles) from Scranton, the culture of coal miners can be explored further at Eckley Miners’ Village, an authentic coal-mining town. More of the wealth of the Industrial Revolution is preserved in the Victorian village of Jim Thorpe, nestled along winding roads in the shadow of the Pocono Mountains. The region also includes freshwater lakes, excellent shad fishing, whitewater rafting and Pennsylvania’s section of the Appalachian Trail. The Endless Mountains are home to two of the most beautiful parks in Pennsylvania: World’s End State Park and Ricketts Glen State Park. VALLEYS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA: Outdoor activities abound in this region, with 19 State parks offering everything from swimming, hiking, horseriding and cross-country skiing. Boating and fishing can be enjoyed in the many tributaries of the Susquehanna River, which is distinguished by its numerous covered or ‘kissing’ bridges. Quaint river towns, such as Selinsgrove and Lewisburg, dot the area. ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST REGION: Located northwest of the Susquehanna Valley, this is one of the most unspoiled areas of Pennsylvania, protected from settlers by rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions. Elk County is home to one of only two wild elk herds east of the Mississippi. The entire region sports more big game than any other part of Pennsylvania. The Allegheny National Forest offers a vast area of woodlands, virgin timber, rivers and beautiful vistas. Wintersports enthusiasts can explore 480km (300 miles) of snowmobiling trails and seven cross-country ski trails. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, a 300m-deep (1000ft) gorge that twists along 80km (50 miles) of Pine Creek and embraces 300,000 acres of forest, can be explored on foot, horseback, canoe or river raft. For quaint country charm, Wellsboro offers a slower pace and a picturesque Main Street, complete with authentic gas street lamps. Connected by the mighty Kinzua Bridge, the towns of Kane and Smethport boast fine country inns. LAKE ERIE REGION: Bordering Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, the northwestern corner of the State features 32,000 acres of lakes, as well as hundreds of miles of rivers for fishing, boating and swimming. Social Profile Food & Drink: Various regions in Pennsylvania have their own specialities. In the Pocono Mountains area, superb local mountain trout is featured in many restaurants. Pennsylvania Dutch food is a unique variation of German cuisine, including pickles, relishes, apple butter, dumplings, pretzels, molasses and shoo-fly pie (a sweet dessert made with molasses). Seven sweet and seven sour dishes are served in a type of smorgasbord. A variety of sausages and cold cuts originate from this region, such as the delicious Lebanon bologna and dried beef. The best restaurants for this unique cuisine can be found around Lancaster. The legal age for drinking is 21 in Pennsylvania and bottled liquor is only sold in State stores. Theatres & Concerts: In Philadelphia, summer performances in the round are staged at the John B Kelly Playhouse. The city’s opera house and concert hall is at the Academy of Music, the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The huge Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park stages summer concerts. Visitors can see Broadway musicals in Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center, while the ornate Heinz Hall is home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In large cities and many smaller towns throughout Pennsylvania, visitors will find orchestras, playhouses and dance troupes. Nightlife: There are numerous dinner theatres, nightclubs, jazz clubs and ethnic entertainment throughout Pennsylvania’s towns and cities. Shopping: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have always been famous for antiques and handicrafts. The main shopping areas in Philadelphia include New Market, Head House Square and the Bourse. The second-largest shopping complex in the USA, The Plaza & The Court at King of Prussia, lies to the north of the city. For budget shoppers, Franklin Mills (just outside Philadelphia), Grove City (north of Pittsburgh) and Reading have hundreds of factory outlets, offering the chance to pick up name-brands at reduced prices. In addition, there is no sales tax on clothing and shoes in Pennsylvania. Antiques buffs should stop in Adamstown, where over 1500 dealers display their wares every Sunday. Special Events: The following is a small sample of events on offer in Pennsylvania for 2003: Jan 1-Dec 31 ‘Patriots - or Traitors?’ The 225th Anniversary of the Struggle for Philadelphia, Valley Forge (see www.valleyforge.org for details of events throughout the year). Jan 1-Jul 4 Celebrate York Exhibit, York. Jan 25 146th Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball, Philadelphia. Feb 2 Race against Cancer (giant slalom race; proceeds to the American Cancer Society), Shawnee Mountain. Feb 16 Washington’s Birthday Celebrations, Washington Crossing. Apr 1-Aug 24 Cars at Carlisle, Carlisle. Jun 2-8 Race Fan Festival, Tannersville. Jun 8-9 Fine Art and Contemporary Craft Show, Lahaska. Jun 21 March Out of the Continental Army (battle re-enactment), Valley Forge. Jun 28-29 13th Annual Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival, Lake Harmony. Jul 25-27 57th Annual State Craft Fair, Lancaster. Sep 15-21 84 Lumber Classic (PGA Golf Tournament), Farmington. Climate The weather can be changeable, with moderate amounts of rain throughout the year. Summers are warm with occasional heatwaves. Winters can be cold with periods of snowfall, especially in the western part of the State. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.