Quilting, hex signs, coal mines, honeymoons, railroads, struedel, history, mountains, covered bridges, and rivers - what do they all have in common?

Pennsylvania, of course! Pennsylvania was settled in 1643. Harrisburg, in Dauphin County, is the capital of PA.

This state saw the birth of the United States in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, and the cruel sacrifices made to establish and defend our new freedom at Valley Forge. Pennsylvania is called the Keystone State, as it was the center colony of the original 13 colonies. It was said that it held the colonies together like the "keystone" in a window or door arch. Philadelphia was our state capital during the Revolutionary War. York was the first capital of the United States, and The Constitution of the United States and The American Declaration of Independence were both written in Pennsylvania. Benjamin Franklin requested to be buried in PA.

The Industrial Revolution, which affected the entire civilized world, was triggered in a small 500 mile area in northeast PA, where anthracite coal was discovered by men intelligent enough to develop a process to use it (Jesse Fell of Wilkes-Barre and David Thomas of the Crane Iron Works in Catasauqua). 300 million year old plant matter has turned into coal all over the world. In northeastern Pennsylvania, however, the coal is purer, harder, and of higher carbon content than other coal. Over 95 percent of the Western Hemisphere is supplied with coal from northeastern Pennsylvania.

Erie, PA's harbor is home to the Flagship Niagara, Commodore Perry's flagship in a decisive battle in the War of 1812.

Gettysburg, PA, was a turning point in the "War Between the States". A massacre for both sides, the sobering loss of life is honored in PA's solemn preservation of this battlefield. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was written in PA.

Pennsylvania was the world's leader in developing transportation technology in the days when railroads were King, and PA has the world's best collections of trains and railroading equipment to prove it! The Pennsylvania Railroad was once the largest in the world, operating 7,000 locomotives and 250,000 cars. The completion of the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, PA was a significant engineering feat that opened the United States up for Westward expansion.. Pennsylvania was the home to many railroading firsts. Explore the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and PA Railways.

Pennsylvania is also the home of numerous sports teams including the Penn State University Nittany Lions and professional teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers; the Philadelphia Phillies; 76ers and Eagles and the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons minor league baseball team and Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins hockey team.

Pennsylvania boasts 50 natural lakes and 2,500 man-made lakes.

Links: Camelback Resort covered bridges Lackawanna Coal Mine Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Marywood University No. 9 Mine & Museum Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort Steamtown, U.S.A

State Bird: Ruffed Grouse State Flower: Mountain Laurel State Tree: Hemlock State Animal: Whitetail Deer State Fish: Brook Trout State Dog: Great Dane State Beverage: Milk State Motto: Virtue, Liberty and Independence State Insect: Firefly State Beautification Plant: Crownvetch State Electric Locomotive: GGI 4859 Electric Locomotive State Steam Locomotive: K4s Steam Locomotive State Ship: United States Brig Niagara State Fossil: Phacops Rana State Song: Pennsylvania