Archive for the ‘History & Landmarks’ Category
The Path of the Flood Trail
Published Friday, February 25th, 2011
There are, of course, many sites around Johnstown that commemorate the historic flood of 1889 and one of the most immersive of these is the Path of the Flood Trail. What could be more hands-on than walking or biking the exact path that the waters took as they bounded through our area?
Christmas at the Russell House
Published Friday, December 10th, 2010
Johnstown’s historic Russell House, the landmark property in the city’s Moxham neighborhood, will hold its annual Christmas event beginning tomorrow, Saturday, December 11, 2010 and continuing on Sunday, December 12, 2010.
Each year the Moxham Renaissance community group helps Johnstown kick off the Christmas season with a two-day holiday event. “People have told me that this gets them started for Christmas,” said Eileen DiBartola, Chairperson for this year’s celebration.
Ghosts of the Staple Bend Tunnel
Published Monday, October 25th, 2010
This Halloween weekend you can get your fill of the macabre right at one of our local historic parks. On Saturday, October 30th, 2010 the Park Service will present “Ghosts of the Staple Bend Tunnel”. These hour-long tours will feature 19th Century historic railroad figures returned from the grave to speak on life (and death) along the Allegheny Portage Railroads.
St. Mark’s Memorial Garden Labyrinth
Published Saturday, March 27th, 2010
Meditation labyrinths have been around for over 4000 years. Used by nearly every religious tradition, they facilitate prayer, meditation, and personal reflection. A labyrinth, unlike a maze, has only one path, leading to the center and back again.
Ethnic Social Club
Published Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
Photograph courtesy of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association
A slice of the Johnstown, PA-area’s history can be found on the fourth floor of the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center. For it’s here that the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) has recreated the spirit of an authentic Johnstown-area ethnic social club. Known as the Ethnic Social Club, the facility is furnished with items restored from the area’s social clubs and provides the public with regular opportunities to enjoy a unique atmosphere.
Venue of Merging Arts (VOMA)
Published Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
What began with the goal of saving a church in Johnstown, PA, now stands poised to become one of the city’s cornerstone cultural landmarks. Located in historic Cambria City, the Venue of Merging Arts (VOMA) is the outcome of efforts by city natives Adam and T.K. Mundok.
The structure that formerly held St. George’s Serbian Orthodox Church is being transformed into a facility that is part gallery, part performance space, part education center. “We wanted to find a way to repurpose this magnificent structure,” says Adam. “The goal is to bring it back to the public.”
Old Cambria County Jail
Published Thursday, January 7th, 2010
In downtown Ebensburg, PA a piece of local history has been captured and preserved by the Cambria County Historical Society. Located in the original cellblock of the former county jail, the Old Cambria County Jail is a historic installation open to the public.
Since opening in 2001, the museum has provided our region with a peek into the local justice system through the display of artifacts and educational posters, and even providing access to one of the cells.
Johnstown Flood Museum
Published Monday, December 14th, 2009
It’s integrated into local culture and history so closely that we barely stop to think about the fateful events on May 31, 1889. The date that Johnstown was struck with a tragedy that earned the town the title of Flood City. The date of the Johnstown Flood. The Johnstown Flood Museum stands as a tribute and memorial to those who were lost and to the devastation suffered 120 years ago. Providing an in-depth look at the events that shaped the city as we know it, the museum is a unique and educational display in the heart of downtown Johnstown, PA.
Cambria County War Memorial Arena
Published Friday, October 16th, 2009
Each year hundreds of thousands of people pass through the doors of the Cambria County War Memorial, located in downtown Johnstown, PA, near the base of the world famous Johnstown Inclined Plane. Serving as the city’s major sporting and entertainment venue, the arena is host to a variety of events, from concerts to conventions to sporting events.
Portage Station Museum
Published Friday, October 9th, 2009
Photograph courtesy of the Portage Area Historical Society
The American railway system is a major part of the heritage of Cambria and the surrounding counties. For the better part of two centuries, locomotives have transported passengers and goods from, to and through the region. Portage Station Museum provides visitors with an in-depth look into the railroad industry and its impact upon our region.
