National Register of Historic Places listings in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, is a place rich in history! Many buildings, bridges, and other sites here are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important places across the United States. It's like a special hall of fame for historic sites!
You can find 42 different places and areas in Huntingdon County on this list. Two of these are even more important and are called National Historic Landmarks. This means they are super significant to the history of the entire country.
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worth saving. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized as important for its history, architecture, or culture. This helps people understand and protect these special sites for future generations.
Historic Treasures of Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County has many different kinds of historic places. You'll find old mills, strong bridges, important industrial sites like furnaces, and even entire historic neighborhoods! These places tell stories about how people lived, worked, and traveled long ago.
East Broad Top Railroad: A Historic Train Ride
One of the most exciting historic sites is the East Broad Top Railroad. It's a National Historic Landmark, which means it's super important! This old railroad, located near Orbisonia, was built to carry coal and other goods. It's one of the oldest narrow-gauge railroads in the United States that is still mostly in its original form. Imagine trains from a long time ago, chugging along these tracks! It's a real step back in time.
Greenwood Furnace State Park: Iron Making History
Greenwood Furnace State Park is another fascinating place. It used to be a busy iron-making village. Here, people made iron using huge furnaces. The park now protects the remains of this old industry. You can see the furnace and learn about how iron was made in the past. It's a great spot to explore history and enjoy nature at the same time. The Greenwood Lake Dam is also part of this historic area, showing how water power was used.
Pulpit Rocks: A Natural Landmark
The Pulpit Rocks are also a National Historic Landmark. These unique rock formations are found along an old turnpike, which was a main road long ago. They are not just natural wonders but also have historical importance, perhaps as a landmark for travelers or a place with local legends.
Old Mills and Furnaces
Many other places on the list show how people used to work. The H.O. Andrews Feed Mill in Mapleton was a place where grain was processed. The Hudson Grist Mill in Saltillo is another example of an old mill. These mills were vital for grinding grains into flour and feed.
Huntingdon County also has many historic furnaces and forges, like the Barree Forge and Furnace, Colerain Forges Mansion, Huntingdon Furnace, and Juniata Iron Works. These places were central to the iron industry, which was very important in Pennsylvania's history. They show how raw materials were turned into useful metal products. The Minersville Coke Ovens are also a reminder of the coal and iron industries.
Historic Bridges
Several old bridges are also on the list, like the Baker Bridge, Birmingham Bridge, Corbin Bridge, and Runk Bridge. These bridges are important because of how they were built and how they helped people travel across rivers and creeks. The St. Mary's Covered Bridge is a beautiful example of an old covered bridge, which were common long ago.
Important Buildings and Districts
The Huntingdon Armory is a historic building in Huntingdon. An armory is a place where military equipment is stored and soldiers train. The Huntingdon Borough Historic District and Mount Union Historic District are entire areas with many historic buildings. Walking through these districts is like stepping back in time, seeing the architecture and layout of older towns.
Other interesting places include the Brumbaugh Homestead, an old family farm, and the Benjamin B. Leas House. The Lloyd and Henry Warehouse shows how goods were stored and traded. The Lewis Smalley Homestead is another example of a historic farm. These places give us a glimpse into the daily lives of people from the past.
Places That Were Once Listed
Sometimes, a place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if the building is changed too much, or if it's destroyed. The Mount Union Refractories Company was once on the list but was later removed. Even if a place is removed, its history is still important to remember.
Images for kids
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The H.O. Andrews Feed Mill in Mapleton.
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Remains of the Barree Forge and Furnace.
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The Birmingham Bridge over the Juniata River.
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The Brumbaugh Homestead.
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The Colerain Forges Mansion.
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The Corbin Bridge over the Raystown Branch Juniata River.
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The Frehn Bridge, which has since been replaced.
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The Greenwood Lake Dam.
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An engine repair house at Harbison-Walker Refractories Company.
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The west side of the Hudson Grist Mill.
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The Huntingdon Armory in Huntingdon.
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A building in the Huntingdon Borough Historic District.
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The historic Huntingdon Furnace.
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Buildings at the Juniata Iron Works.
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The Benjamin B. Leas House.
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The Lloyd and Henry Warehouse.
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A former school in the Marklesburg Historic District.
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The Minersville Coke Ovens.
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Ruins of the Monroe Furnace.
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A street view in the Mount Union Historic District.
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The south side of Paradise Furnace.
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The Pennsylvania Canal Guard Lock and Feeder Dam.
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The Pennsylvania Furnace Mansion.
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The Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge over Shavers Creek.
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A skew bridge in the Pennsylvania Railroad District.
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The Pennsylvania Railroad Old Bridge over Standing Stone Creek.
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The house at Robb Farm.
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The Robertsdale Hotel in the Robertsdale Historic District.
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The Runk Bridge over Aughwick Creek.
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The Shade Gap Feed and Flour Mill.
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A barn at the Lewis Smalley Homestead.
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The Spruce Creek Rod and Gun Club.
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The Warrior Ridge Dam and Hydroelectric Plant.
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The dam at Whipple Dam State Park.
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The post office in the Woodvale Historic District.
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Beehive ovens at the former Mount Union Refractories Company.
