Juniata River Corridor: America's Industrial Heritage Project, Southwestern Pennsylvania

National Park Service

The Juniata River valley in southwestern Pennsylvania is rich in history and natural beauty. For more than a century this area was a bustling transportation hub and industrial area. Today, after many years of economic decline, efforts by public and private groups are being initiated to help reverse that condition and revitalize the area. The America's Industrial Heritage Project, managed by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission, is working cooperatively within the nine-county project area to help promote tourism and commemorate the significant contribution of the region's iron and steel, coal, and transportation industries. As part of this effort, the Juniata River Corridor Reconnaissance Survey was initiated. The purpose of the Juniata survey is to identify the resources within the Juniata valley, examine their significance, and determine whether further study is needed. To accomplish this, the study assesses the area's historic heritage and natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational values and concludes with a discussion of general significance and recommendations for further study.