INTRODUCTION The America's Industrial Heritage Project combination of local, regional, state, and In the summer of 1987 the Park Service America's Industrial Heritage Project is will emphasize cooperative planning, national interests could "make a collective began a systematic inventory of industrial underway! This innovative and development, and management of the effort to provide for the development of heritage sites and also started data challenging project involves a nine-county region's resources. This will be done by visitor-oriented programs, interpretive collection and research regarding these region in southwestern Pennsylvania, creating a cooperative atmosphere for exhibits and waysides, and access to sites and AIHP themes. After finalization which has an exciting and significant discussion and action among local, state, certain sites of interest and significance." of the Action Plan, in cooperation with history. With its steep-sloped, heavily and federal levels of government in close In 1986 Congress focused on alternative state and local governments, the Park forested hillsides, its rural farmsteads and cooperation with area businesses and 4 of the survey, which called for a regional Service began some site-specific work, small communities nestled in scenic organizations. approach to preservation and promotion, which focused on nationally significant valleys, and its urban industrial centers, and requested that the National Park sites in existing NPS areas and on other the Allegheny Highlands is a diverse and Implementation of the America's Service take a more detailed look at the significant sites that are affiliated directly fascinating region awaiting discovery. Industrial Heritage Project will give region's resources and develop a with project themes. NPS personnel also visitors from across the nation an program for implementing the concepts in served as commission staff and assisted appreciation of some of the forces that that alternative. This became the in public involvement. shaped America's industrial development emphasis for the early phases of the and progress. Given the small numbers America's Industrial Heritage Project. of national historic sites that are devoted to the development and growth of heavy In December 1986 an ad hoc commission industry and the industrial labor composed of representatives from movement in America, it is appropriate regional industries, local governments, that we as a nation examine ways to better and area organizations was formed to commemorate this significant chapter in direct the early part of the project. This the story of America's growth. The commission worked diligently to oversee industries that developed in southwestern the planning process, knowing that a Pennsylvania contributed significantly to cooperative framework would be the key FARM, NORTHERN CAMBRIA COUNTY America's movement westward, allowed to the success of their work. Four for the growth of cities, and provided the committees were organized within the critical materials for fueling the "arsenal of commission to oversee the planning The purpose of America's Industrial democracy," enabling the nation to fight process and address various aspects of Heritage Project (AIHP) is twofold. The for freedom in World War II. the project - Cultural Resources, first purpose is to commemorate the Economic Development, Tourism and significant contribution of the region's iron Marketing, and Transportation. and steel, coal, and transportation ELIZA FURNACE, CAMBRIA COUNTY industries, which helped fuel and move The first project task involved the America's industrial growth and completion of an action plan. The development and establish her standing commission conducted an extensive among the nations of the world. Many of public involvement program and held a the region's cultural resources relate not series of public meetings during only to America's heritage but to her future formulation of the action plan to obtain PROJECT LEADERSHIP as well. The area's important contribution citizen sentiment on project goals. The After Labor Day 1987, legislation was to the rich ethnic and social history of the resultant draft Action Plan was reviewed introduced to create the Southwestern nation is also an important part of the in public meetings throughout the Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation project. Second, the project will use nine-county region. Based on input from Commission - a federally legislated related historic sites and cultural citizens and organizations, changes were commission in the Department of the resources within the nine counties as OLD BEDFORD VILLAGE, BEDFORD COUNTY made and the final Action Plan was Interior. Congress found that focal points for a tourism promotion distributed to the public on Labor Day, program. Tourism development efforts 1987. The plan guides future project the iron and steelmaking, coal, will also include the region's scenic, emphasis, outlines funding and and transportation industries and natural, and recreational areas in the BACKGROUND management needs, and provides the labor of their workers direction for potential local, state, and SOUTHWESTERN overall AIHP plan. A series of heritage Much of the project's background is based contributed significantly to federal legislative agenda items. The routes or tour routes will be designated in in a 1985 National Park Service (NPS) America's movement westward, action plan forms the basis for future the area so that visitors can enjoy the study of the region entitled allowed for the growth of the implementation strategies related to the PENNSYLVANIA area's numerous historic sites and Reconnaissance Survey of Western Nation's cities, and helped fuel project and identifies new opportunities recreational activities and at the same Pennsylvania Roads and Sites. This NPS and move its industrial growth for coordination among the various levels time appreciate the scenic valleys, farms, survey identified the significant cultural and development..., [that] there of government. towns, and forested slopes of the resources at Johnstown and Altoona as are only a few recognized historic Allegheny Highlands region of focal points for tourism initiatives. The sites that are devoted to Pennsylvania. survey also stated that some reasonable portraying the development and growth of heavy industry and the two members from the National the region's overall economy and how interpretation, and development of visitor Routes for residents and visitors. WHAT'S AHEAD? facilities. Another example is the industrial labor movement in Park Service historic preservation and economic PENNDOT is also responsible for Based upon the recommendations cooperative agreement between the Park America; and the 9-county region development goals can be meshed improvements to major highways in the contained in the Action Plan, 1989 and Service and the Altoona Railroaders in southwestern Pennsylvania the director of the National Park continues to be a task of the Economic region, such as US 119,219,220, and US succeeding years should allow for more Memorial Museum. This agreement known as the Allegheny Service, ex officio, or his delegate Development Committee. The Tourism 22, the William Penn National Heritage detailed planning work and the provides NPS assistance for Highlands contains significant and Marketing Committee continues to Highway. Also, PENNDOT is working implementation of project goals and development of new visitor facilities at examples of iron and steel, coal, The commission can, among otherthings, examine ways to coordinate with the commission to establish the objectives. As outlined in the legislation, Horseshoe Curve National Historic and transportation industries, elect a chairman; appoint the necessary project-related marketing strategies Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial by November 1990 the Southwestern Landmark and for cooperative planning, and is a suitable region in which staff; receive property; make loans and throughout the nine-county region. The Heritage Route - a series of heritage Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation interpretation, and facility development in the story of American industrial grants to conserve and protect sites, Transportation Committee maintains its routes throughout the nine-county area. Commission needs to establish a the railroaders museum complex in heritage can be appropriately buildings, and objects that are related to focus on the region's highways and roads, blueprint for the development of the area's downtown Altoona. interpreted to present and future the industrial development of the area and including improvements to US 22, a The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks resources. This includes an analysis of generations. that are included on or eligible for the critical east-west transportation link and the Pennsylvania Fish and Game the methods of inventorying, preserving, National Register of Historic Places; and through the region, and US 119, 219, and Through the individual missions of the Commission work with the commission in and interpreting the cultural and historic To implement the Action Plan and the use its funds to obtain property, facilities, 220, the region's three major north-south four national park system units within the areas relating to the region's natural resources of the area and purpose of the proposed legislation, the and services needed to carry out its highway connectors. Ideas under project region, the Park Service will also environment; they also provide recommendations for coordinating Southwestern