Allegheny

Why should it be a National Park?

The Allegheny region spans seven counties, five in northwestern Pennsylvania and two in southwestern New York, and is one of the most bypassed sections of the eastern United States. Unlike much of the east, this area has no major cities, popular battlefields, or well-known historic sites. Because of this isolation, the natural environment in the region remains similar to the way the first settlers would have experienced it.

Allegheny is overlooked despite having significant but forgotten connections to American history. This area is home to Drake Well, which in 1859 became the world's first functioning oil well and resulted in the first oil boom. Kinzua Bridge, built in 1882 and at a height of 300 feet, was once the tallest railroad bridge on the planet, but in 2003 a tornado struck the bridge, leveling half of the steel structure. A glass-bottomed observation deck was built at the edge of the remaining bridge, giving visitors a view of the wreckage. The only Revolutionary War battlefield in western Pennsylvania is located on Thompson Island in the Allegheny River. Additionally, Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman, more than just folklore legend, lived in this region during his mission of planting apple trees across America.

While this forgotten history is fascinating, Allegheny's true distinction is its scenery. The nearly one million acres of dynamic terrain is the work of hundreds of waterways that carved their way through these forested mountains. During autumn, the thick, tall trees found on these hills glow in reds, oranges, and yellows that rival any fall foliage in the country. The forest stands in sharp contrast to better-known places like New England, where the changing leaves are almost always seen alongside farms and paved roads.

Allegheny has long been a destination for hikers, as those visiting the region can experience a number of changes in terrain, including impressive sections of old-growth forest and towering rock cliffs. While hundreds of miles of trails exist, the most prominent is the North Country National Scenic Trail, of which over 100 miles passes through Allegheny. The trail begins in Vermont and stretches approximately 4,800 miles through eight states before terminating in North Dakota. The region is also home to local hero Howard Zahniser, who conceived of what would become the Wilderness Act of 1964, designating millions of acres across America as roadless areas that must remain in their natural state. Although Allegheny gave birth to the idea of Wilderness preservation, almost none of this landscape is protected in this manner. National Parks protect only 13% of all federal lands, but within those lands are 40% of all Wilderness areas. Strangely, the land that inspired the Wilderness Act has received so little of its protection.