This place is epic! EPIC!! you could literally spend an entire weekend here exploring and you still…read moreprobably wouldn't get to see everything! It's truly a colossal piece of history. We went on a Saturday..got there around 3pm and left at 5pm. We barely ran into anyone while exploring..which was great. 2hrs was obviously not enough time. When we got there we checked in at the table..you get a wristband while on the property. Purchasing your tickets ahead of time..it makes life for the employees a lot easier. It's dark and there isn't power..so using the iPad to check out is a pain for them. They give you the rules and what not to do..where to stay out of..and they let you explore all on your own. We literally had so much fun. Make sure to bring plenty of flashlights and warm clothes if you're going during that winter season like we did. There are tunles that run from building to building..awesome! The chapel is incredible, the cell housing areas are just as cool..just so many things..the prison barber school..the cobbler shop. So many nooks and crannies. We learned theyll have overnight explorations in the spring/summer/fall in 2023. There will be a hydroponics building as well. The place is just spectacular, and the drive to keep this place open for people to come see history and not let it wither away is amazing. Thank you! Truly appreciate places like this. Please don't leave trash and break things here and ruin it for people who have an appreciation for places like this.

While driving across the country with my 11-year-old son, we stopped here to pay our respects and…read morelearn more about this side of September 11th. I was in college when the attacks happened, and like everyone alive that day, I have vivid memories. I was genuinely moved to tears while walking through the visitor's center. Hearing recorded messages that passengers left their loved ones was especially gut wrenching. The walk through the field to the memorial was especially impactful. So peaceful and silent yet eerie to think it was so recently a scene of violent tragedy. The park service did a great job of memorializing and honoring the victims. This is a tough visit, but an important stop to learn more about an all too recent and tragic chapter in American history.

A beautiful, serene, and deeply reflective site. The visitor center is thoughtfully done, and as…read moresomeone who remembers September 11th all too well, hearing the live news replays hit me hard -- I had to step away for a moment to collect myself. That's how powerful this place is. The chime tower is stunning, and the trails are easy to walk, making the whole memorial accessible while still feeling profoundly moving. I can't think of a more fitting or beautiful tribute to the heroic Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice that day. Highly recommend visiting -- bring tissues.

We were driving by when we saw the signage for the Gallitzin Tunnels. Having just come from the…read moreAllegheny Portage Railroad site, we appreciated the meaning of the tunnels and pulled over to check them out. There is some parking available nearby, and you can easily walk out on the side of the bridge facing the tunnel. There are even two small "windows" in the fencing on the bridge so that you can easily view and/or take pictures of the tunnels. There is a real caboose and a wooden play train available in the grassy area next to the parking. The caboose was closed at the time of our visit, but the wooden play train was fun. There was also signage indicating that a museum was available across the street, but it was outside of the posted hours so we did not see that. If you're interested in train history, this is a good stop!

After our visit to the Allegheny Portage NPS it seemed fitting to take a quick swing over to the…read morelandmark tunnels that put them out of business. Thankfully this place has lots of signage all around the area because it's off the beaten path in the middle of a residential area. We showed up right on time as within about two minutes we felt the rumble and saw the headlight of a train getting ready to emerge from the tunnel. We got to the overlook bridge just in time to catch an 80+ car NS trash train right as it came out of the tunnel. Have a sinus issue? Catch this baby from the bridge and you will be cured because not only does it stink as it's going beneath you but the smell continues to waft out of the tunnel for a good ten minutes after the train is long gone. It's sort of a....Gallitzin Dutch Oven. As for the museum, supposedly the hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 12pm-5pm. We were there in the 4pm hour and nothing was open. The caboose still has hours listed from 2011 on the door so naturally that was also closed. It was disappointing that the caboose/museum were not open but it was still a fascinating look at some living history and we were thankful to see the tunnel in action as well.

Even though the incline was closed, we stopped to look since we were going to the adjacent…read morerestaurant for dinner. It was constructed as a "lifesaver" after the Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889, the Incline has more than lived up to its original lifesaving purpose. I read that flood waters again swept through the Conemaugh and Stonycreek Valleys on March 17, 1936 and July 20, 1977. During both floods, the Incline carried men, women, children and vehicles to safety and help. It is one of the longest and steepest hoists in the world and one of the few transportation systems of its kind still in existence and has its place in the Guinness Book of Records as "The steepest vehicular inclined plane in the world." The incline is closed for refurbishments set to be completed in Spring 2023. We were thrilled to see a large American flag flying above the incline. The flagpole is 125 feet tall and is on the highest point above the valley. I am sure that this flag can be seen for miles.

This was an enjoyable little trip up the mountain over Johnstown. Great views!! Gives you a great…read moreperspective of the city

Very informative museum . I was not very familiar with the flood and after touring this area and…read morethe Floor Memorial I felt the devastation that Johnstown underwent. Great piece of history. Site is well maintained and very clean. Keep up the good work A+++

There is not much to see here but you'll learn a lot about the tragedy. The rangers here are very…read morefriendly and knowledgeable. Plenty of parking space.

If you're visiting the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and plan on doing a little…read morewalking down the 6 To 10 Trail, the Skew Arch Bridge is one of the first sites you'll see after leaving the Lemon House. The entire Allegheny Portage Railroad was built as part of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal System, which consisted of 10 inclined planes transporting canal boats and railroad cars over the Allegheny Mountains. The APRR was 36 miles long, operating between Hollidaysburg and Johnstown. In 1832 a bridge was commissioned to allow the passage of the Cambria & Indiana Turnpike Road over the railroad. The design of the bridge was changed in 1833 in order to allow for a bend in the Turnpike, thus the name. Skew Arch Bridge was the only road bridge built along the railroad. In order to save money on materials and transportation costs, much of the bridge was built with broken stone taken from the railroad. As with most of the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, no plans or drawings of bridge have ever been found. Interestingly, a portion of Old U.S. 22 was built on the right of way of the old Portage Railroad and Skew Arch Bridge is located in a median between the east and westbound lanes of the highway. Remarkably, much of the bridge survived intact. In 1979 repair and stabilization work were done on the bridge, allowing it to be enjoyed today. In order to reach the bridge from the trail, walk down the spur or the mowed section of the incline. Or if you're driving, the bridge is located about a mile from the Summit Exit on New US 22. Parking is available at the bridge. To find it on Google Maps, type in "Allegheny Portage National Historic Site." Look just to the east (right) along Old U.S. 22, where the lanes split (at Healy Road). Zoom in and you'll find it easily

This is an awesome experience the trains come about once every hour and if you could try to see the…read moreAmtrak train, it's a once in a lifetime experience

The funicular is almost never running, forcing people to climb a long flight of stairs. Even if you…read moreare able-bodied, it is difficult. And, they don't have the foresight to install a regular bonafide elevator to resolve the issue. You are better off going over to the Gallitzin Tunnel Park/Museum to railfan the trains that come through here.

Thanks to our country's National Park Service relics like these are available to view about our…read morecountry's history. The park rangers add to the wealth of knowledge. This was well preserved to give you some history. If the walls could only talk!!

Got my Stamp for the passport!!!…read more Neat little place really nice walkway down to the forest and railhouse

Kings Covered Bridge is an absolute gem of a historic stop in Somerset County! Since it's closed to…read morecars, it is completely peaceful to walk through and admire the incredible, old-school woodwork and architecture up close. The surrounding park-like setting right next to Laurel Hill Creek is incredibly scenic, and the picnic pavilion makes it the perfect place to pull off the road, stretch your legs, and soak in a little bit of Pennsylvania history.

This covered bridge is one of 10 covered bridges that currently exist in Somerset County…read more I included it on my list for a day trip driving from West Mifflin, PA (outside Pittsburgh). You can't drive through the bridge but there is space to park near it and you can walk inside it. It is a good photo opp, especially was on this blue sky day. It is within a quick 2 mile drive of Barronvale Covered Bridge so make sure to include that one while you are in the area.