Laurel Highlands PA

An ambitious young officer heads west to claim lands for the British. Along the way, he makes mistakes, but he also works hard, persists, and makes a name for himself. Some believe that George Washington’s trials and tribulations in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands helped him grow into a legendary military leader and eventually the first President of the United States of America.

Great Crossings of the Youghiogheny River

Yough River Lake, near Route 40 Bridge, Addison

May 18, 1754

Lt Col. George Washington, who is just 22-years old, was in command of about 150 troops in the Virginia regiment. He was on a mission to capture the French fort, Fort Duquesne, at what was called “the forks of the Ohio” in present-day Pittsburgh to reinforce an advance party of Virginians and prevent the French from seizing their claim. Washington decided to see if he could use the Youghiogheny River as a means to reach the fort quickly and avoid building miles of road across the mountains, but high water prevented the army from crossing the river.

The Turkeyfoot

Along the Great Allegheny Passage in Confluence

May 20, 1754

Washington and five men set off in a canoe from the Great Crossings to explore the Youghiogheny River. Finding the canoe too crowded, they stopped in present-day Confluence to build another vessel, likely a log raft. Washington referred to this site as the “turkeyfoot,” after the shape formed by the confluence of the Youghiogheny and Casselman rivers and Laurel Hill Creek.

A Falls

Ohiopyle Falls, Ohiopyle

May 21, 1754

Washington observed the falls and wrote it was “nearly forty feet perpendicular” and concluded that the Youghiogheny River “can never be made navigable.” Here he was forced by the powerful Ohiopyle Falls to abandon the river passage.

The Great Meadows

Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Farmington

May 24, 1754

Excited to locate an open meadow, Washington writes that by cutting down some bushes they have “prepar’d a charming field for an encounter.” Perhaps it was a little premonition of what is to come…

A Very Obscure Place Surrounded by Rocks

Jumonville Glen

May 28, 1754

Late in the evening the day before, Washington receives news from his Seneca Indian ally, the Half King, that a party of French soldiers is nearby. After hiking all night, he joined with his American Indian allies to surround the French and find out what they were up to. While Washington positioned his troops, the French spotted them. It is unclear whether the French or British fired the first shot, but then Washington’s troop open fire. After a brief skirmish, 10 Frenchmen were dead, including Ensign Joseph Coulon, sieur de Jumonville. Both sides claimed the other fired first with the French also blaming Washington for the assassination of Jumonville. Washington rebuffed, saying he waited until the French ran for their arms before giving the order to fire. This event marked the first shots of the French and Indian War.

Fort Necessity

July 3-4, 1754

A lone French soldier escaped from the skirmish and reported to the French military leaders at Fort Duquesne, who then planned retaliation against the British. In anticipation of a French attack, Washington returned to the Great Meadows and ordered the construction of a small stockade named Fort Necessity. Five weeks later, on July 3, 1754, he and nearly 400 troops were attacked by a force led by Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, brother of the slain Ensign Jumonville. The French surrounded the small fort. After fighting all day in the pouring rain, Washington lost 30 soldiers and 70 were wounded. At midnight, Washington agrees to his first and only military surrender.

The next day, Fort Necessity was surrendered. Poor translation of the terms of surrender led Washington to sign his name to the document, ultimately holding him responsible for the assassination of Ensign Jumonville.

Engagement with the French on the Monongahela

Braddock’s Field History Center, Braddock

July 9, 1755

Washington joined British General Edward Braddock as a volunteer aide-de-camp, as the English once again tried to capture the French-held Fort Duquesne in present-day Pittsburgh. Only seven miles from their destination, Braddock’s large army of about 1,400 soldiers encountered the French and their American Indian allies. After fighting for about three hours, the British suffered huge losses. Washington had four bullets shot through his clothes but survived unscathed. Braddock was mortally wounded and directs Washington’s lead the troops’ retreat.

Braddock’s Grave

July 13-14, 1755

While on the retreat, less than a mile from Fort Necessity, Braddock succumbed to his injuries. The next day, Washington gave the eulogy at his gravesite and Braddock was buried in the middle of the road. Wagons were rolled over top of the gravesite to prevent the general’s body from being discovered and desecrated by enemies.

Fort Ligonier

October-November 1758

Washington arrived at Fort Ligonier in late October of 1758. On November 12, he was sent a few miles from the fort to assist a group of Virginians who were in a skirmish with a raiding party from Fort Duquesne. Mistaking the Virginians for the enemy, a devastating friendly fire incident ensued in which 40 men were killed or went missing. Three prisoners from Fort Duquesne were taken during the incident. One gave intelligence that Fort Duquesne was weak. General John Forbes led a force, that included Washington, to finally take their objective. On November 25, 1758, Forbes’s troops entered the burned-out and abandoned ruins of Fort Duquesne, renaming it Pittsburgh.

Stewart’s Crossing

Col. William Crawford’s Cabin, Youghiogheny River Park, Connellsville

October 13, 1770

En route to Fort Pitt at present-day Pittsburgh, Washington and his men visit the home of William Crawford, Washington’s childhood friend and land agent. Crawford joins the group to travel the Ohio River looking at land.

What comes to mind when you think of mosaics? Roman villas? Mosaic kits from Michael’s craft store? Or those mosaic tiles for the kitchen? Well, prepare yourself for the full spectrum of color in the form of Sager Mosaics.

Meet Rachel Sager, the founder, mosaicist, artist, and blogger extraordinaire of Sager Mosaics.  She’s about as deep into mosaic artistry as you can go, having devoted half her life to this exquisite craft. Rachel considers herself a “Forager Mosaicist,” which basically means that she uses the resources she has around her. And according to Rachel, there’s a great selection of raw material to be had in the Laurel Highlands, from sandstone and limestone to dense black shale. It means foraging, walking the land, following the topography, learning about the environment, connecting with the past, and above all discovering the medium to work with. And then, with your own hands and tools exploring the raw material, learn how to cut it, how to use it, and how best to display it.

Sager Mosaics is located right in the heart of the Laurel Highlands. With the early 1900’s red brick studio/gallery/shop located at mile marker 104 of the Great Allegheny Passage rail-trail, in the small coal town of Whitsett overlooking the Youghiogheny River. It’s picture-perfect or as Rachel describes it “a little bit of Heaven.” Born and raised in the Laurel Highlands, Rachel is a proud native and incorporates the region’s history and heritage in her biggest challenge yet, The Ruins Project.

Which once was a coal mine operating station until it closed in 1946, it’s now Rachel’s giant cement canvas’ covering over two acres. Little by little, with the collaboration of hundreds of artists, Rachel is slowly covering this extraordinary canvas with an eclectic collection of mosaics, ranging from coal mining features, a nod to the local heritage and her family’s past (her father, grandfather, and great grandfather all mined in the local mine), to birds, animals, local landmarks, and we can’t leave out the 67’ train mosaic.  Yes, you read that correctly, 67 foot-long mosaic, most probably the longest train mosaic in the world?

The Ruins Project is open for tours year-round, where Rachel will give you a personalized one-hour tour of this magnificent mosaic project. Booking tours online is preferable, see the link at the bottom of the page for details.

Aside from The Ruins, Rachel also offers virtual online mosaic classes starting at beginner through to advanced, in all quests of mosaic creativity.  There’s also the studio/shop where she works away in the quieter winter months making beautiful mosaic jewelry, as well as other smaller more extricate projects.

One project which has captured my attention is “Feather,” a spin-off project from The Ruins Project. Plans were underway for many international artists to visit and create on-site in 2020. Those plans were tabled and the Feather Project was born, offering the opportunity for artists around the world to contribute to The Ruins Project from their own homestead. The Feather Project asked mosaicists to make native Pennsylvania birds in detail then ship them to Sager Mosaics, where they will be placed on painted trees on The Ruins. The starling pictured above was created by Mireille Swinnen.

According to Rachel they have 40 birds in the works, all life-size including a chickadee, a cardinal, and a barn owl all waiting to be installed later this year. Personally, I can’t wait to see the result, judging by the bird mosaic images Rachel has shared on Facebook.

I can’t express enough how inspirational, captivating, and bold Sager Mosaics and The Ruins Project is to me. I totally recommend diving into Rachel’s beautifully written blogs and following The Ruins Project progress on Facebook or Instagram, the vibrant, colorful mosaics will blow you away.

Sager Mosaics was a guest on the Laurel Highlands Happenings podcast series in January 2021. Listen here.

Learn more about Sager Mosaics and The Ruins Project here.

Welcome to Latrobe, the hometown neighborhood of Fred Rogers!  On your way from stop one to stop two, be on the lookout for a familiar saying: “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

Fred Rogers Statue in James H. Rogers Park

Take a walk around downtown Latrobe, Fred’s hometown, and make a stop at the James H. Rogers Memorial Park, named in honor of Fred’s father. Take a seat on the bench next to the life-size Fred Rogers statue and be sure to take advantage of the perfect selfie opportunity!

Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce

Get a glimpse into the true family man by paying a visit to the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce! You’ll be able to view a special video, see photos of Fred and his family from a personal collection, and, of course, see his iconic cardigan sweater and a pair of his signature navy blue sneakers worn on his television show, “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.” Located at 811 Ligonier Street in Latrobe, the chamber is open 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Visitor tip: They are now stocked with Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Daniel Tiger Funko Pop toy for collectors of all ages!

Latrobe High School

Fred attended Latrobe High School when it was located in the former Latrobe Elementary School, located on Ligonier Street. The present-day high school honors Rogers and golf legend Arnold Palmer with a display of memorabilia of the two famous alumni. However, it is only open to the public during school events such as plays and art shows.

Latrobe Art Center

Enjoy breakfast or lunch at Ricolita’s Cafe at the Latrobe Art Center, where you can browse through Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood merchandise for sale and inspiring artwork by local artists. This hub of arts and activities was co-founded in 2002 by Nancy “Laney” Rogers Crozier, Fred’s sister.

Rogers-McFeely Memorial Pool

The construction of this community pool was funded by Fred’s parents to provide a safe place for local kids to swim.

Latrobe Presbyterian Church

Did you know that Fred Rogers was an ordained minister? On your journey through town, see where he went to church as a youngin’. Near the church, you will find a small plaque and an old school bell that marks the former Second Ward School, where Fred attended elementary classes.

Fred Rogers’ Place of Burial

Reflect on Fred Rogers’ legacy and impact on the world and visit his final resting place at Unity Cemetery in Latrobe.

There are plenty of things to do and see between these Fred Rogers attractions. Use the map above, pinned with the places mentioned, to find a restaurant to grab a bite to eat or a place to stay.

We partnered with Visit PA to create The Fred Rogers Trail, so be sure to check out the rest of the trail that will take you through Pittsburgh, Washington, and New Florence to see everything Fred Rogers.

Spanning 3,000 square miles across some of the most diverse landscapes in Pennsylvania, the Laurel Highlands is home to scenic views, lush forests, rushing rivers, and roaring waterfalls. Let’s take a closer look at some of the stunning natural wonders in the Laurel Highlands. Perhaps you will recognize a few gems and discover some new must-sees.

Spruce Flats Bog, Laurel Summit State Park
Make a stop at Spruce Flats Bog, a unique vantage point and home to beautiful plant life, including carnivorous plants. Home to unique plants not usually found in this region, Spruce Flats Bog is shrouded in geological mystery. Bogs are typically not found at such high elevations. But this bog sits in a rock depression at 2,720 feet above sea level. Geologists believe that Spruce Flats probably wasn’t formed by glacial movement, but by extreme weather. The water in the bog isn’t fed by natural springs, but by rain and snowfall, making the water a little stagnant and very acidic. Here you’ll find familiar flora like mountain laurel and rhododendron, as well as cranberries, St. John’s wort, grasses, and even carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants.

The less than a half a mile stroll from the parking area at Laurel Summit ends at a deck overlooking the 28 acres of swampy and moss-covered land. This region is a great place for bird watching.

Hemlock Grove at Laurel Hill State Park
Laurel Hill State Park is the perfect destination for winter sports, family fun, hiking, wildlife and bird watching and camping during any time of year. Seventy-five years ago, the Civilian Conservation Corps revived the landscape after heavy timbering and the only untouched area is the Hemlock Trail Natural Area. The hemlocks are at least 200 years old and measure up to three-and-a-half feet in diameter. Take a peaceful trek on the 1.6-mile Hemlock Trail loop, which leads you along the banks of Laurel Hill Creek and through the grove of stately towering trees.

Ohiopyle Falls, Ohiopyle State Park
Ohiopyle Falls, one of many waterfalls in Ohiopyle State Park, features a 20-foot drop of powerful rushing water that spans the entire width of the Youghiogheny River. Visitors can easily access the falls by parking on the main road in town or in the Laurel Highlands Falls Area Visitor Center parking lot. On your way to the observation deck, read some of the interpretive signage about the history of whitewater and the falls, including the story of George Washington’s run-in with the powerful river. Ohiopyle Falls can also be viewed from the opposite side of the river by taking a short hike on the Ferncliff Trail.

Ferncliff Peninsula, Ohiopyle State Park
Encircled by the Youghiogheny River, the 100-acre Ferncliff Peninsula in Ohiopyle State Park is an exceptional habitat for many rare and interesting plants. The Youghiogheny River flows from the south to the north, picking up seeds in Maryland and West Virginia and leaving them at Ferncliff, north of their usual growing range. Here the deep river gorge is a bit warmer than the surrounding area, allowing these southern plants to survive.

Recognized for its botanical diversity for more than 100 years, the peninsula was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1973.

Mount Davis, Forbes State Forest
The highest point in Pennsylvania is located in the Laurel Highlands! Mount Davis, located in Forbes State Forest in Somerset County, is situated 3,213 feet above sea level on the crest of a 30-mile ridgeline. Adventurers will find a large parking lot off of Mount Davis Road and can walk about 100 yards to the peak, making it easily accessible by car. The expansive view from the summit is absolutely breathtaking, but feel free to climb to the top of the nearby observation tower for a better view of the rolling hillsides and picturesque mountains.

Blue Hole, Forbes State Forest, Blue Hole Division/Barron Tract
Not too far from Cole Run Falls, you will find Blue Hole, a stunning sight for sure. The water has formed a deep hole within the stream where the water appears blue because of the depth and the stones over which the water flows.

For added adventure, check out the remains of the Civilian Conservations Corps camp at nearby Fall Run.

Eastern Continental Divide on the Great Allegheny Passage
The highest point on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) at 2,392 feet above sea level, the Eastern Continental Divide can be found at mile marker 23.7, very close to Meyersdale. Pour water on one side of this watershed divide and it flows to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Pour on the other side, it’s headed to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

Abundant Snowfall
Alberta Clippers, lake-effect snow, Nor’easters… you name ‘em, we got ‘em here in the Laurel Highlands. The mountain ridges and valley areas not only create a beautiful landscape but a diverse environment, ripe for snow. Western-facing ridges are a bulls-eye for lake effect snowstorms coming from the west and Lake Erie. On average, the highest elevations of the region receive about 138 inches (11.5 feet) of snow between late October and early April. Only our neighbors along Lake Erie can rival the Laurel Highlands for the highest totals in the state.

About Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
A magnificent mountainous region, the Laurel Highlands spans 3,000 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania. Located an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh, the beautiful four-season destination offers spectacular natural scenery, outstanding outdoor recreation, historic sites and attractions, family activities, and world-class resorts. Notable destinations within the region include four architectural masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater®, Kentuck Knob, Mäntylä, and Duncan House – Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Flight 93 National Memorial, Idlewild and Soak Zone, whitewater rafting in Ohiopyle State Park, and more.

Located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Washington D.C., the Laurel Highlands can be easily accessed from exits 67, 75, 91, and 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Visitors to the Laurel Highlands can find information online at www.GOLaurelHighlands.com, calling 724.238.5661, www.facebook.com/laurelhighlandsPA, and www.twitter.com/laurelhighlands. Established in 1958, GO Laurel Highlands, also known as Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.