Discover History

Forests are constantly growing and changing. They grow from young forest to mature forest and sometimes to old-growth, and the cycle repeats. The US Forest Service has studied forest growth and change here on the Allegheny Plateau since 1923 when both the Allegheny National Forest and the Northeastern Research Station were established. 

Visit the Old Powerhouse and take a tour of Pennsylvanias Oil History. The founding of the Bradford oil field in 1875 brought a new dimension to America's oil industry. By 1881, the Bradford field produced well over 90% of the national petroleum supply.

For thousands of years humans living in what is now the Allegheny National Forest have adapted to changing ecosystems by adjusting their settlement-subsistence systems and cultural adaptations through time in response to environmental changes. Not only did they respond to environmental change but in some cases were either directly or indirectly responsible for the changes.

Historical highlights from the Allegheny National Forests 100+ year history.