Buchanan's Birthplace State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buchanan's Birthplace State Park
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
The stone pyramid marking the site of President Buchanan's birth in the park
Buchanan's Birthplace State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Peters, Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States
Area	18.5 acres (7.5 ha)
Elevation	912 ft (278 m)
Established	1911
Named for	Birthplace of James Buchanan
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Buchanan's Birthplace State Park

Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is a small state park in Pennsylvania. It covers about 18.5-acre (7.5 ha) of land. You can find it near Cove Gap in Franklin County. The park sits along Pennsylvania Route 16, right next to Tuscarora Mountain.

This special park was created thanks to a gift of land. Harriet Lane donated the land to the state. She did this to honor her uncle, James Buchanan, who was the 15th President of the United States.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is a great spot for a quiet visit. It has a few nice places for you to relax.

• Picnic Areas: There are two covered picnic areas called pavilions. You will also find many picnic tables.
• Restrooms and Water: Clean drinking water and two restrooms are available near the picnic spots.
• Fishing: A stream called Buck Run flows through the park. It's a good place to try fishing for native trout.
• Hiking: The Tuscarora Trail passes very close to the park. This trail is a special path that connects to the longer Appalachian Trail.

President Buchanan's Childhood Home

James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791. His family was from Ulster Scots heritage. He was born in a simple log cabin near Cove Gap. This area was part of his father's property.

Their home was known as Stony Batter. This name came from a family home in Ireland. When Buchanan was born, Cove Gap was on the edge of the American frontier. This means it was a busy place where pioneers stopped. Stony Batter was a group of buildings. It had cabins, barns, stables, and even a general store. There was also an orchard. Travelers heading west would stop here to rest and get supplies. Buchanan lived at Stony Batter until he was six years old. Then, his family moved to Mercersburg.

The Special Monument

Harriet Lane was President Buchanan's niece. Since he never married, she acted as his First Lady. She wanted to create a special memorial for her uncle. She tried to buy his birthplace, Stony Batter, many times but couldn't.

In 1895, Harriet Lane wrote her will. She set up a plan to build monuments for her uncle. After she passed away in 1903, two men took on this task. They were E. Francis Riggs, a banker, and Lawrason Riggs, a lawyer. It took them several years, but they finally bought Stony Batter in 1907.

The monument they built is shaped like a pyramid. It was made using stones found right in the area. An architectural company from Baltimore designed it. The pyramid is 38 feet (12 m) wide at its base and 31 feet (9.4 m) tall. It was built with 50 short tons (45 t) of granite and 250 tons of other materials.

Construction started in October 1907 with 20 workers. They even built a small railroad to move the heavy stones. More workers joined, and the monument was finished by late winter. An iron fence was put around it. In 1911, the Pennsylvania General Assembly officially accepted the monument. That's when Buchanan's Birthplace State Park was formally created.

Other State Parks Nearby

Here are some other state parks you can find within 30 miles (48 km) of Buchanan's Birthplace State Park:

• Berkeley Springs State Park (West Virginia)
• Cacapon State Park (West Virginia)
• Cowans Gap State Park (Fulton County)
• Caledonia State Park (Adams and Franklin Counties)
• Fort Frederick State Park (Maryland)
• Greenbrier State Park (Maryland)
• Mont Alto State Park (Franklin County)
• South Mountain State Park (Maryland)
• Trough Creek State Park (Huntingdon County)
• Warriors Path State Park (Bedford County)