Things to do in Laurel Highlands, Laurel Highlands: The Best Historic Sites

December 29, 2021 Tambra Mccollister

Discover the best top things to do in Laurel Highlands, United States including Fallingwater, Irwin Union Cemetery, Fells United Methodist Church And Cemetery, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Kentuck Knob, Fort Ligonier, Jumonville Glen, Somerset Historical Center, Historic Hanna's Town, Ligonier Beach.
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1. Fallingwater

1491 Mill Run Rd, Mill Run, PA 15464-1543 +1 724-329-8501 http://www.fallingwater.org
Excellent
83%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2,689 reviews

Fallingwater

Perched on a rock above a gushing waterfall, this historic house was built for a Pittsburgh family by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930s, ingeniously designed to blend harmoniously into the tranquil and beautiful woods around it.

Reviewed By LittlePaint - Urbandale, United States

I wish I could have gone inside, but there are so many windows that much of the interior is visible anyway. There was no waiting for the self guided tour and I could have taken a guided tour with only a 90 minute wait. I decided I'd wait for the guided tour until they reopen the interior... And hope I am near enough again to go visit. I would suggest some familiarity with FLWs philosophy and history of your going to take the self guided tour. I think it adds an appreciation and a richness to the tour that would be sorely missing otherwise. A detail I learned with a bit of research is that this unique and amazing house was constructed in 1930, during the depression, as a weekend retreat. Being able to wander the grounds are a nice bonus. The gift shop is open with a limited number allowed inside at a time. Gloves and masks are provided and must be worn. Many items are typical of FLW gift shops. More than worth the price of admission. Oh.... And don't forget to go to the guest house!

2. Irwin Union Cemetery

431 Bridge St, Irwin, PA 15642-1504 +1 724-863-6351 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Irwin-Union-Cemetery/115911445105152
Excellent
100%
Good
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Satisfactory
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

Irwin Union Cemetery

3. Fells United Methodist Church And Cemetery

1268 Fells Church Rd Fellsburg, Belle Vernon, PA 15012-4707 +1 724-379-4502 http://www.facebook.com/FellsUnitedMethodistChuch/
Excellent
100%
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

Fells United Methodist Church And Cemetery

4. Fort Necessity National Battlefield

1 Washington Pkwy, Farmington, PA 15437-9501 +1 724-329-5512 [email protected] http://www.nps.gov/fone/index.htm
Excellent
56%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 370 reviews

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

This historical site marks the first battlefield of the American French and Indian War.

Reviewed By VAPioneer - Arlington, United States

A great National Park Service location with a modern museum experience that tells the history of George Washington’s involvement at Fort Necessity and the larger world impact of those events. It was also great to learn more about the history of the region and the National Road (now US40) at this location. Great outdoor walks, one note - be sure to wear appropriate hiking clothes and shoes. Worth a quick stop if you are in the area and are interested in American history.

5. Kentuck Knob

723 Kentuck Rd, Chalk Hill, PA 15421 +1 724-329-1901 [email protected] http://www.kentuckknob.com
Excellent
70%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 634 reviews

Kentuck Knob

Reviewed By DivineMissMaja - Silver Spring, United States

This is a completely different experience from Fallingwater, but no less spectacular. I would not say that this is actually a typical Usonian home built for the "masses" since, in this case, it cost about 10x as much to build as the comfortable suburban house where I grew up, which was of equivalent size and built at approximately the same time. The design balances solid practicality with creative features in wood and stone. I like how the house was designed to be integral to the site rather than designed and then just plopped on the site. After the tour, you can walk around the grounds to view the extensive collection of sculpture (most of which left me scratching my head but, oh well, the woods were lovely), and it is a pleasant walk back down the hill to the visitor center/gift shop/cafe. Access to the house is via winding country roads, so leave yourself plenty of time to get there.

6. Fort Ligonier

U.S. Route 30 and Pa. Route 711, Ligonier, PA 15658-1242 +1 724-238-9701 http://fortligonier.org
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 248 reviews

Fort Ligonier

Reviewed By J288VFrobd

Fort Ligonier is an incredible place with a special history. Despite having a busy highway on one side and a tightly packed residential neighborhood on another, it's easy to ignore the modern intrusions once inside the fort and imagine what life was like for the soldiers, artisans, campfollowers and others who lived in and around the fort during the 1750s and 1760s. The varied reproduction brass artillery pieces and supporting wagons and equipment at the recreated fort are extraordinary and impressive. And the museum and its contents are equally extraordinary and impressive. It covers not only the French and Indian War in North America but also the Seven Years War in Europe, with unique and historically significant artifacts and clothing from both theaters and from the various countries involved in both. Even though the site is off the beaten path, it's well worth a visit!

7. Jumonville Glen

Fort Necessity, Mill Run, PA 15437 http://www.nps.gov/fone/jumglen.htm
Excellent
56%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 32 reviews

Jumonville Glen

Reviewed By GrumpyWhenImHungry - Hopwood, United States

Walking in the exact footsteps of George Washington, standing upon the rocks where the shots were fired from, and being in the exact location of a major historical event is a bit overwhelming once you're there. As you park, you will notice numerous historical markers detailing the timeline and events that occurred some 200+ years ago. An easy walk takes you directly to "Washington's Rocks", and gives you the exact point of view from both the French and British perspectives. There are trails that are very easy to walk, and plenty of nature to take in. Standing on the very spot where the French and Indian War kicked off the Revolutionary War is hard for your mind to comprehend when you begin to imagine what it looked like during that conflict...right where you stand. How this place isn't a national destination is beyond me.

8. Somerset Historical Center

10649 Somerset Pike, Somerset, PA 15501-7357 +1 814-445-6077 http://www.somersethistoricalcenter.org
Excellent
53%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
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Poor
3%
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 34 reviews

Somerset Historical Center

9. Historic Hanna's Town

Excellent
52%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
4%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 27 reviews

Historic Hanna's Town

Established in 1773, Hanna’s Town served as the first English courts west of the Allegheny Mountains and the first seat of government for Westmoreland County. It was home to frontier settlers, hosted travelers along the Forbes Road, and served as a recruitment center during the Revolutionary War. The Hanna’s Town Resolves, adopted May 16, 1775, proclaimed citizens’ willingness take up arms against Great Britain. On July 13, 1782, Hanna’s Town was attacked and burned by Seneca and British in one of the final conflicts of the Revolutionary War. The site’s conversion to farmland preserved it as an archaeological time capsule of frontier life in Pennsylvania. Historic Hanna’s Town is now a county park administered by the Westmoreland Historical Society. It consists of the reconstructed Hanna's Tavern, late 18th and early 19th c. log houses, a reconstructed Revolutionary War era fort, a blacksmith shop, and Education Center with research library, exhibits, and gift shop built in 2019.

10. Ligonier Beach

1752 Route 30, Ligonier, PA 15658-8532 +1 724-238-5553 http://ligonierbeach.com/
Excellent
63%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
5%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 19 reviews

Ligonier Beach

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