I visited Fort Necessity alone in mid-June 2025 as a pit stop on a drive from Columbus, OH to…read morenorthern Virginia. Lot of pluses in visiting this federal park (the visitor center is open from 9am-5pm). First, it has a clean restroom on this stretch of U.S. 40. If you're in dire need of a restroom break, visitors will have a new appreciation for the meaning of "Fort Necessity". Second, the 15+ minute video is useful in providing historic context to the battle and role of the National Road which facilitated westward expansion and trade in the 1800s. Third, the museum displays were upgraded since my last visit in 2013. Overall, it provides in-depth context for the Battle and the National Road (US-40 today). The early mistakes of George Washington and that of General Braddock provided valuable lessons that helped Washington in the American Revolution. Something that I did not know was the 1930's Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the state park and illustrated how President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) saved many young American men from despair during Great Depression. Perhaps the US needs a similar initiative today to help young men looking for meaningful work.

It's very quiet here. Great place to see and learn the history. The fort itself isn't original…read more It's a recreation. Friendly ranger.

Pleasant little trip into 1830's roadside tavern history (and more history of the National Road,…read morecomplimenting some of the history at next door's Fort Necessity visitors' center), such as what sort of people traveled, how they traveled, what they could afford to eat, and how they slept (uncomfortably and sharing space with strangers).

The previous two Yelpers certainly explained the tavern well enough but I'm going to throw in a few…read moredetails that they overlooked. First and foremost is that it's an oddity of history that George Washington came to own the land on which he fought his first battle. He fought his first battle at Fort Necessity right down the hill from where the tavern stands in 1754. As history will tell you, things didn't turn out so well for young Colonel Washington. But the area stuck with Washington and fifteen years after his defeat at Fort Necessity he came back to buy the land consisting of 234 1/2 acres in southwestern Pennsylvania. The tract of land was called "Mount Washington" and embraced the Great Meadows. However, little did he know then that this tract would later boast a tavern whose story would live for generations. Although Washington never lived to see his land flourish, he knew it would be an excellent site for an inn. Soon after his death the first federally funded road was laid down through this country, crossing the Mount Washington tract, thus proving his speculations correct. Travelers stopping at the Mt. Washington Tavern were pleased to find a commodious brick and stone tavern of eleven rooms in two stories, with an attic and basement. Built around 1827 by Judge Nathaniel Ewing of Uniontown, the Tavern was operated by James and Rebecca Sampey and did a lively business from the time it opened. Four conditions were prevalent at this inn: the place was clean, the food was good, the landlady was civil and her husband was sober. The building was an inn for only a short period of time from its construction in 1827-8 to 1855 when the importance of The National Road declined due to railroad construction. It was then used as a private home until 1932 when the Commonwealth of PA purchased it and eventually the NPS acquired it in 1961 while making the building part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Today the tavern serves as sort of a museum of what life would have been like traveling the National Road in the mid-19th century. The tavern is open seasonally from April-November normally the same hours as the visitors' center but in particular thanks to the lingering effects of the Sequester, that is subject to change and you should call before coming as the hours are not updated on the nps.gov site.

This place has been here since the whiskey rebellion. It has a deep historic roots involved with…read morethis place. In the 1770s, tracing ownership through the Swart and McDonald families. An ancestor named John Henry built the stone house between 1817 and 1823 on what was then called a plantation. An old will also refers to the dwelling as "the mansion house." They've since put a deck on the back of the place and redid the inside of the house. It's incredible and nicely snuggled inside of Mingo Creek Park and worth a visit.

I recently photographed a wedding at the Scenic View. The grounds are really beautiful and the…read morelookout trumps all. There's a tower up a long, winding road, but you don't even need to go up into the tower to see the gorgeous mountain view. The landscape is breathtaking, I'm sure, during any time of the day. But we went up at sunset after a storm and it was nothing short of spectacular. I cannot wait to get back to Penn's Scenic View for the view alone!

Penn's Scenic View is such a beautiful place. My large family would go up every year and rent out…read morethe Stable Lodge there. Of course, I loved being with my family. However, I loved going for walks in the area. It's such an amazing experience. Peace, quiet, utter bliss... what more could you ask for? If you walk up this dirt road, you'll encounter a wooden tower on a hill. If you walk up the tower, you can take in the breathtaking view. A full 360° of trees. It's all picture-worthy. You truly won't be disappointed. You can continue to walk around to discover new things. There's a lake next to the Lakeside Lodge. I would always see weddings take place at the lake from the Stable Lodge. It was really nice to see something like that. Unfortunately, this place is private property. You can't just walk in willy-nilly. We rented out a cabin, that's the only reason we were granted access. The place is being sold. It's up for around $1.3 million dollars. Therefore, we can't rent out the Stable Lodge anymore. The whole place is gated off. I wish I could go back up there, just one last time. It's truly amazing. That place means a lot to me. My family has been going up there since I was a baby, and I'm 17. A lot of memories are kept there. It's also the place where I found myself. I would do whatever I could to go up there just one last time. I want to share the experience with my girlfriend. I would pay that $1.3 million to go back up there. If you're lucky enough to visit the 18 acres of pure scenery, you won't be disappointed for even a second.

Mr. Furley has his own statue in Morgantown! OK, it's actually Don Knotts, but to me, he will…read morealways be the landlord in Three's Company, on his way to the Regal Beagle to pick up some hot chicks. Don Knotts was born and raised in Morgantown, went to school at West Virginia University, and started his career as a ventriloquist at the Metropolitan Theatre in downtown Morgantown. His statue sits outside of the theatre building. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would guess that Don is probably one of the most famous people to come out of this West Virginia town. Certainly the most famous person from Morgantown to wear ascots and polyester leisure suits on television. The statue is on a busy one-way street, but you'll need to park across the street at one of the metered spots, or in one of the parking lots. This is a busy college town, so finding parking can be a chore, but Ralph Furley is worth the little bit of effort.

Any fan of Don Knotts should make the trek here in Morgantown, which was the TV legend's hometown…read more It was unveiled here in 2016 in front of the theatre where he started out as a ventriloquist. He of course would become best known for his roles on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Three's Company" and others. But he always had the goofy look that even though no one took very seriously, was still lovable and is a reminder of how he always made us laugh. It's on a busy downtown street, but its not far from a paid lot.

History is worth looking at. This is an interesting spot if you're a Washington fan. Get to know…read morehis early days.

Borrowed from the below site:…read more www.mdmountainside.com/listing/george-washingtons-headquarters/2042/#:~:text=The%20Headquarters%20of%20George%20Washington,the%20United%20States%20of%20America. "The Headquarters of George Washington is a historic site, located at 38 Greene Street, in the historic downtown district of Cumberland, Maryland. The centerpiece and primary attraction at the site is a historic log cabin twice occupied by George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. The cabin resides in an area known today as Riverside Park but was originally built about 2 blocks away. The original site is located nearby at 16 Washington Street. The cabin was originally built by General Edward Braddock's men, between 1755 and 1758, for then Colonel George Washington's use during his service in the French and Indian War. He later returned and used it briefly during 1794, then as the Commander in Chief, in order to review the troops gathered to put down the Whiskey Rebellion. This site is notable, as it signifies Washington's first military command. The original site lies on a hill that overlooks Wills Creek and the Potomac River. It was once the location of Fort Cumberland (Maryland) and today, The Emmanuel Episcopal Church (Cumberland, Maryland). The headquarters was part of Fort Cumberland during the French and Indian War, and it is the only building to survive from the original Fort. Though closed to the public, the cabin has windows visitors can peer into and see historical displays and artifacts of what the cabin may have looked like including a bed, desk, and fireplace as well as a life-size wax replica of Washington." If you come here, parking in the area is somewhat tight. During our visit, Greene and Baltimore Streets were under a lot of construction so we parked two blocks away for a buck in a pay lot near Basecamp Coffee. If you're so inclined, you could also park on the other side of the creek at the visitor center and walk over the bridge to get here. We came, read the placards, took a few pictures, walked a short distance to read a few more of the placards that go under 68 but then saw a few loud locals (i.e. homeless-hobo-vagrant) and thought better of going any further. With that said, this is by no means a stop that you're going out of your way for. At best, this is a few minutes passing curiosity just to say that you saw it. If you want something more substantive about Washington's time in the general area as a British officer, the NPS site Fort Necessity is the place. Tons of stuff there that George did including surrendering to the French. www.nps.gov/fone/index.htm

This is the quintessential Brownsville historical attraction. If you are looking for a prize of…read morelocal history you cannot find anywhere else then look no further

I have heard of Nemacolin Castle, but had thought it was near the resort by the same name. It…read morewasn't until I entered the address into the GPS that I learned it is located in Brownsville. Husband and I decided to visit when the Christmas tour was offered. We got a history lesson on the man who founded a trading post and built the castle. The Bowman family was quite influential in the area. It is impressive to be made aware of the history behind the family and the home. The home is managed by the historical society and volunteers. It would be great if they would get some additional funding for restoring the home. Right now, they rely on donations and admission fees to maintain the upkeep. There are areas of sagging floors and peeling wallpaper. It is fortunate that most of the furniture items were actually owned and used by the family. The piano is beautiful and one of the first to come to the area. The home was decorated for the Christmas holiday. Admission is $15 for adults and tickets may be purchased online or at the door. On busy times, I would recommend reservations. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We were in a tour of about 18-24 people which was too large of a group. The some of the rooms were small and we were crammed in to hear the guide. Still, it was a nice way to spend a rainy Saturday before Christmas. I want to return when they have a haunted tour next fall.

I have been here a total of three times. I love this lovely park that is FREE to enjoy! There is a…read morelarge parking lot and you can walk out to the Grave site of General Braddock and enjoy the signage and flowers. Very lovely park! This park is located near the Mount Washington Tavern and located in the Laurel Highlands area. There is a lot of great sites to enjoy!! Most of them are free for you to enjoy as well. There are some wonderful Waterfalls near by. General Braddock has a huge military history! If you get a chance to research anything about him you definitely should. First time we visited this park my 23 yr old daughter was 7yrs old. They have made tons of major improvement here and I am very pleased!

This little park is a really cool spot to stop by on your way to Fort Necessity. Not only does it…read morefeature the grave of Major General Braddock, It also maintains a fragment of the Historic road that passed through the area.

A great place to stop and do some unique shopping. This little village off I68 and 219 has lots to…read morelook out. The restaurant has some wholesome food and also a gift shop. They have done quite a few improvements since a few years ago a big storm knocked down alit of trees. The Savage river runs right next to it. Unfortunately right now 6/25, you cannot go on the stone bridge over the river due to repairs. Just down the road is Candy-land that has a nice assortment of loose candy that you can mix and match. This is a definite rest stop if you are traveling I68.

A very cool place with a lot to offer…read more Funny thing is, I used to travel back and forth to Baltimore and DC for years for work and I would always pass by this place and I'd think, I wonder if that Penn Alps Restaurant is any good? I even had several of my customers who had businesses right up the road from this place who'd praise their food, but I have never once ate it. Hopefully one day :) Then not long ago me and a good friend of mine went on a little hiking adventure in the surrounding area with her kids and we decided to stop by here to look around and check things out. I was pleasantly surprised at all of the stuff they have here and the history tied to it all. It's such a cute little Swiss village and honestly has a decent amount of stuff to offer and learn about. Plus, there is a newer building behind all of this that looked to me like it was a super cool cafe at one time, but it was closed when I was there. It did have a sign on the door that said it would be reopening soon. The Cornucopia Cafe, which I hope to try soon as well. There is a lot to do and see here. Take your time and look around, buy some local merchandise, learn some history, and eat some good food. If you're on 68 heading East or West take a little break here to check it out and learn about a time period in which George Washington was a part of. Enjoy :)