What do quilting, hex signs, coal mines, honeymoons, railroads, streudel, history, mountains, covered bridges, and rivers have in common?

Pennsylvania, of course!  Settled in 1643, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in Dauphin County is the capital of PA.

This state saw the birth of the United States in  Philadelphia's Independence Hall, and the cruel sacrifices made to establish and defend our new freedom at Valley Forge. Pennsylvania is called the Keystone State, as it was the center colony of the original 13 colonies. It was said that it held the colonies together like the "keystone" in a window or door arch.  Philadelphia was our state capital during the Revolutionary War.  York was the first capital of the United States, and The Constitution of the United States and The American Declaration of Independence were both written in Pennsylvania.  Benjamin Franklin asked be buried in PA.

The Industrial Revolution affected the entire civilized world and was triggered in a small 500 mile area in northeast PA.  It was here that anthracite coal was discovered by men intelligent enough to develop a process to use it (Jesse Fell of Wilkes-Barre and David Thomas of the Crane Iron Works in Catasauqua).  300 million year old plant matter has turned into coal all over the world. In northeastern Pennsylvania, however, the coal is purer, harder, and of higher carbon content than other coal. Over 95 percent of the Western Hemisphere is supplied with coal from northeastern Pennsylvania.

Erie, PA's harbor is home to the Flagship Niagara, Commodore Perry's flagship in a decisive battle in the War of 1812.  Gettysburg, PA, was a turning point in the "War Between the States".  A massacre for both sides, the sobering loss of life is honored in PA's solemn preservation of this battlefield.  Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was written in PA.

Pennsylvania was the world's leader in developing transportation technology in the days when railroads were king and the state has the world's best collections of trains and railroading equipment to prove it!  The Pennsylvania Railroad was once the largest in the world, operating 7,000 locomotives and 250,000 cars. The completion of the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, PA was a significant engineering feat that opened the United States for Westward expansion.  Pennsylvania was the home to many railroading firsts.  Explore the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and  PA Railways.

Pennsylvania boasts 50 natural lakes and 2,500 man-made lakes.

Pennsylvania is also the home of numerous sports teams including the Penn State University Nittany Lions and professional teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers; the Philadelphia Phillies; 76ers and Eagles and the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons minor league baseball team and Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins hockey team.

Links:

Camelback Resort
Covered Bridges
Lackawanna Coal Mine
Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
Marywood University
Montage Mountain
No. 9 Mine & Museum
Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Steamtown, U.S.A

State Bird: Ruffed Grouse
State Flower: Mountain Laurel
State Tree: Hemlock
State Animal: Whitetail Deer
State Fish: Brook Trout
State Dog: Great Dane
State Beverage: Milk
State Motto:  Virtue, Liberty and Independence
State Insect: Firefly
State Beautification Plant: Crownvetch
State Electric Locomotive: GGI 4859 Electric Locomotive
State Steam Locomotive: K4s Steam Locomotive
State Ship: United States Brig Niagara
State Fossil: Phacops Rana
State Song: Pennsylvania