What are you doing this weekend... or next weekend or next month?

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1 What are you doing this weekend... or next weekend or next month? Call or stop in to reserve your Admission Passes to any one of nine Western Pennsylvania museums or historical destinations! You can even schedule your trip in advance! Passes are reserved for one week at a time... Monday to Sunday 100 Borough Park Drive Pittsburgh, PA

2 REQUEST FORM Use this worksheet to plan your next trip! Call the library or bring this with you to the front desk and staff will check availability. Admission Pass To West Overton Village Mt. Pleasant (OH) Historical Society Old Economy Village Date(s) Desired Heinz History Center (including Fort Pitt Museum & Meadowcroft) Altoona Railroaders Museum (including Horseshoe Curve) Captain William Vicary Mansion WEST OVERTON VILLAGE & MUSEUM 109 West Overton Road, Scottdale, PA June through October 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday - Monday Limited tours available in May Closed Holidays Check website for special tours and events! for up to four people Cockayne Farmstead Francis J. LeMoyne House McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center NAME PHONE Library Card # (optional) LIBRARY USE ONLY Date Called Staff Initials

3 What You Should Know Tickets provide free admission for up to four people. Do not relinquish the ticket to the site. It must be returned with the admission pass kit to avoid replacement charges. Admission pass kits check out for one week. You will receive a phone call on Monday* when the kit is ready, but you may pick it up at any time during the week. *Except for holidays when the library is closed. Admission pass kits must be returned by Sunday to the Whitehall Public Library only. After-hours returns can be placed in the library book drop. Each kit contains tips and suggestions for your trip! Fines are $0.25 a day. No renewals. DESCRIPTION West Overton began when Henry Overholt and his family settled in the Scottdale area in By 1803 Henry owned 260 acres, and his son Abraham developed a rye whiskey distillery there. In 1846 John W. Frick, a Swiss immigrant, was hired to work in the grist mill in the village. He married Abraham s daughter, and their second child, Henry Clay Frick, who grew up at West Overton, became involved in business. Eventually, Henry Clay Frick went into the coal and coke industry and partnered with Andrew Carnegie. When Frick died in 1919, his daughter purchased West Overton as a way to memorialize her father. West Overton Village and Museum is the only pre-civil War village intact in Pennsylvania. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a stop on the American Whiskey Trail. The Village represents the transformation of American culture from an agrarian society with the production of the coverlets manufactured at West Overton and the distilling operation to a more industrial society with the excavation of coal and ultimately the production of coke, a necessary ingredient for steel. Today visitors can tour the restored Village s remaining buildings, including the Overholt Homestead, the Spring House where Henry Clay Frick was born, and the Distillery Museum. In the Village, worker houses and family home have been repurposed into storefronts, and a restaurant may open in the Village soon. In addition, the Overholt Room and the Distillery Museum are available to rent for weddings and other events and meetings. An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, West Overton Village and Museum serves many purposes. It is deeply connected to our region s growth and has been an important part of our country s history.

4 DESCRIPTION The McKeesport Regional History and Heritage Center was founded in It is dedicated to the people, places and things of McKeesport and the Mon Valley. Every item of the museum collection has been privately donated. At one time, McKeesport was a major, bustling city with a population of 55,355 in There were several fine department stores in town, as well as the country s first G. C. Murphy five-and-ten-cent store. In addition, there were many movie theaters and restaurants, and an active nightlife. The residential area included an abundance of fine mansions. At the Center there are five rooms of local memorabilia and photos that illustrate this impressive bygone era. One famous native of McKeesport was Helen Richey who was a pioneering female aviator and the first woman hired as a pilot by a commercial airline in the U.S. Another resident who is highlighted at the Center is Bette Ford, who was an acclaimed female bullfighter. MT. PLEASANT HISTORICAL SOCIETY 342 Union Street, Mt. Pleasant, Ohio May through October 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday November through April 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday Closed Saturday & Sunday Check website for special tours and events! for up to four people When they were U.S. Representatives, John Kennedy and Richard Nixon held the first of their five debates in McKeesport in 1947 concerning labor issues. Besides their wealth of memorabilia, the Center houses a complete oneroom schoolhouse, built in 1832, the first in McKeesport. The Industry Wing features a large scale model of the U.S. Steel National Tube, which was located in McKeesport and was the area s largest employer with 10,000 people. The Center s research library contains extensive archival resources, and educational programs are offered which highlight the area s diverse past, as well as famous people who have called McKeesport home. An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the McKeesport Regional History and Heritage Center is a hidden gem of the Mon Valley!

5 DESCRIPTION The Village of Mt. Pleasant is on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark District of the Underground Railroad because it played a vital role in the anti-slave movement. Most of the buildings of the Village are private, but the Mt. Pleasant Historical Society offers tours by appointment from April to October. Historically costumed guides take visitors to several houses within the district and to the Quaker Yearly Meeting House, the first of its kind west of the Alleghenies. Special events occur throughout the season as well. MCKEESPORT REGIONAL HISTORY & HERITAGE CENTER 1832 Arboretum Drive, McKeesport, PA (next to the Rose Garden in Renziehausen Park) a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday for up to 4 people The Village is widely recognized for its Quaker origin and anti-slavery actions which included becoming a primary station on the Underground Railroad and establishing a Free Labor Store, which sold no products produced by slave labor. The Village was a refuge for fugitive slaves and a welcome home for free blacks. Local residents built and administered a school for free black children. The first abolitionist newspaper in the United States, the Philanthropist, was published there, and it was the site of Ohio s first abolitionist convention. It was also home to Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first African American to play major league professional baseball. There are many events in all of Jefferson County, Ohio including the Steuben Concert Series and Ohio Valley Frontier Days, plus other historic sites to visit nearby, such as Historic Fort Steuben, First Federal Land Office and the Jefferson County Historical Museum. An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, The Mt. Pleasant Historical Society offers visitors a look at the role and significance of The Village of Mt. Pleasant in our nation s history.

6 DESCRIPTION The house was built in 1812 by Dr. John LeMoyne, who came to America to escape the French Revolution. His son, Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne, later lived there. Besides being their residence, the house was also used as a doctor s office and pharmacy. It s a three-story building with two front doors, one for private use and the other as a professional entrance. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Francis LeMoyne was recognized for stopping the spread of disease in his community by building the country s first crematory on his property. Dr. Francis LeMoyne was also a famous abolitionist, who founded the Washington County Antislavery Society in The house was used as part of the Underground Railroad, and it is considered to be one the best preserved Underground Railroad sites in the United States. OLD ECONOMY VILLAGE 270 Sixteenth Street, Ambridge, PA April 1 through December a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday Saturday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Closed Monday & Tuesday Closed Holidays Check website for special tours and events! for up to four people In addition, Dr. Francis LeMoyne was a supporter of education and founded the Citizens Library, a free public library for people of Washington, PA and neighboring communities. He promoted education for women and helped to found the Washington Female Seminary. He also founded LeMoyne College in Memphis, TN, which is now known as LeMoyne-Owen College; it was predominantly built for the education of newly freed slaves. Because of his leadership efforts, Dr. Francis LeMoyne was nominated by abolitionists in the Liberty Party for vice-president of the U.S. in 1840 and for governor of Pennsylvania three separate times. The Francis J. LeMoyne House was declared a National Historic Landmark in It is now home to the Washington County Historical Society and contains many period artifacts, such as newspapers, letters, photographs and records. An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the LeMoyne House and family are a significant part of America s history!

7 DESCRIPTION Old Economy Village strives to preserve and present the life, thought and material culture of the Harmony Society, a 19th century religious community. The Society, led by George Rapp, endeavored to create a utopia, inhabited by German Lutheran separatists. At Economy they waited for the second coming of the Messiah. The Village was organized and planned for efficiency, with the church and leaders houses in the center of town, which were surrounded by a store, post office, a Feast Hall, and several businesses. The members houses were then built around those buildings. Finally, at the edges of the community were the barns, stables, tannery, blacksmith shop, etc. The community was economically successful and remained in operation for 100 years, from by creating, adapting, and adopting the new technologies of their day. They were involved in manufacturing wool, cotton and silk textiles, plus in the production of wine and beer. In addition, they had financial investments in railroads, river travel, coal, oil, and timber. THE FRANCIS J. LEMOYNE HOUSE 49 East Maiden Street, Washington, PA a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday Friday Special Events on Saturday & Sunday Check website for updates! for up to 4 people Visitors of Old Economy Village can tour the Visitor Center, and many of the settlement s buildings such as the Carriage House, Mechanics Building, Wine Cellar, Store, Post Office, Baker House, Bake Oven, Community Kitchen, Cabinet Shop, Blacksmith Shop, and Granary. In these buildings, visitors can observe artifacts on display and learn about the daily life of the Harmonists. A variety of programs and speakers are offered, such as Saturday Spotlights, which includes The Art of Blacksmithing, 19th Century Food Ways, 19th Century Trades and Crafts, Woodworking and Children s Games, Meet the Gardeners, and Textiles. Check their website for the monthly schedule. School tours are also offered for every age of student. An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, Old Economy gives us a glimpse into this fascinating culture from the past.

8 DESCRIPTION The Cockayne Farmstead in West Virginia is a 150-year old farmstead owned by four generations of the Cockayne family. It was originally called the Glen Dale Farm. Samuel A. J. Cockayne raised sheep and brought worldwide attention to the farm when he won the top award with his Merino sheep at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in He was also recognized for his wool at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER 1212 Smallman Street (Strip District), Pittsburgh, PA a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily for up to four people Also included in complimentary admission: Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Fort Pitt Museum, and Meadowcrowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village in Avella, PA When Samuel A. J. s grandson, another Samuel A. J., died in 2001, his will gave the property to the town of Glen Dale and the Marshall County Historical Society, who partnered to preserve the property. In addition, the property includes an Indian Burial Mound. The farmhouse exterior has been restored; the interior is an active site of conservation. There are also over 2000 artifacts on display that belonged to the Cockayne family. All of this has been accomplished through grants, contributions, and adult / student volunteer hours. The site a time capsule, showing what rural life was like in the Ohio Valley from An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the Cockayne Farmstead does a great job of keeping history alive!

9 DESCRIPTION The Heinz History Center has been in continuous existence since 1879, which makes it one of Pittsburgh s oldest cultural organizations. The museum is Pennsylvania s largest history museum and a proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The Heinz History Center also facilitates its own affiliate program, working with over 200 historical organizations in our tri-state area. It is devoted to the history and heritage of Western PA and contains six floors of long-term and changing exhibits with hands-on activities, as well as a multitude of events and programs. There is something for everyone! The museum system also includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, the Detre Library and Archives, and the Museum Conservation Center. In addition, the Heinz History Center operates the Meadowcrowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella, PA and the Fort Pitt Museum at the Point in Pittsburgh. COCKAYNE FARMSTEAD 1105 Wheeling Avenue, Glen Dale, WV a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Friday Special Events on Saturday & Sunday Check website for updates! for up to 4 people

10 DESCRIPTION The Vicary Mansion was built overlooking the Ohio River in 1826 by Captain William Vicary, a retired Philadelphia merchant sea captain and land speculator. Over the years additional changes were made to the buildings and grounds; several unique adaptations allow visitors to observe early 19th century architecture in the house. It is now owned by Beaver County and is managed by the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation. In 1974 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its architectural significance. ALTOONA RAILROADERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM th Avenue, Altoona, PA May through October 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Special hours in March, April & November: Check website Closed for the season Mid-November to Mid-March The Vicary Mansion is a very busy place, offering many educational, informative, and entertaining programs. Several major events are held there during the year, including the county-wide History Celebration Weekend, Apple Butter Fest, Hauntings and Ghost Tales, and Christmas at the Mansion. On Vicary Day visitors may try their hand at historic crafts of the past, such as weaving, spinning, lacemaking, quilting, woodcutting and gardening. Their award-winning Windows Through History program is held for young ladies; it teaches what life was like during different time periods of our history. A wide selection of archival materials and historic objects are housed in the Vicary Mansion, including diaries, letters, newspapers, photographs, textiles, and records from over 50 boroughs and townships of Beaver County. A variety of programs and speakers are offered and constantly changing. Their newest is a bus tour that allows participants to taste and experience food and teas from the 1820 s. An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, the Vicary Mansion is a bee hive of activity! Check out their website for what they re developing next! Check website for special tours and events! for up to four people Also included in complimentary admission: Horseshoe Curve National Historic Site

11 DESCRIPTION The Railroaders Memorial Museum is dedicated to revealing, interpreting, commemorating, and celebrating the significant contributions of Railroaders and their families to American Life and Industry. The Altoona Pennsylvania Railroad s contribution to the nation s transportation infrastructure, and to production standardization, marks it as one of the most important contributors to America s Industrial revolution. For more than a century, Altoona was one of the most important rail facilities in the United States. By the 1920 s, The Altoona railroad works employed 15,000 workers, and by 1945 the Pennsylvania Railroad s facilities at Altoona had become the world s largest rail shop complex. The sounds of steam engines welcome you back to the days when rail was king. In the lobby, a life-sized replica of the K4 #1361 stands tribute to the 6,000 steam locomotives built in Altoona, and to the workers who built them. This is where you begin your journey through the Railroad- CAPTAIN WILLIAM VICARY MANSION 1235 Third Avenue, Freedom, PA a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday Friday Special Events on Saturday & Sunday Check website for updates! for up to 4 people ers Memorial Museum, housed in the historic 1882 Master Mechanics Building that once was home to the extensive testing labs of the Pennsy. An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, The Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum / Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark helps us to appreciate our region s heritage and the significance of transportation in America s history.

12 DESCRIPTION A visit to the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark can be entertaining and educational! It is one of the few places in North America where the public can view a working railroad up-close. The Visitor s Center provides details on the challenges, design and construction of the Horseshoe Curve. HORSESHOE CURVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK 1500 Genwhite Road, Altoona PA In the mid-1800 s as railroads moved west across America, the Allegheny Mountains proved to be a significant obstacle. A young Pennsylvania Railroad civil engineer thought that if the rail-tracks could climb gradually along the mountain contour, the locomotives could overcome the ridges. J. Edgar Thomson s design proved successful. The opening of the Horseshoe Curve in 1854 revolutionized rail travel and cleared the way for westward expansion of the railroad. Today more than 50 trains each day can be viewed and photographed. Visitors can ride to the track elevation onboard the funicular or walk the beautiful scenic steps to the top. May through October 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Special hours in March, April & November: Check website Closed for the season Mid-November to Mid-March Check website for special tours and events! for up to four people Also included in complimentary admission: Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum An affiliate of the Heinz History Center, The Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum / Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark helps us to appreciate our region s heritage and the significance of transportation in America s history.