THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
Join Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site for an Evening on the Summit program about the Gallitzin Tunnels. The presentation takes place on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the visitor center auditorium and is free of charge.
Official NPS source
Our final Evening on the Summit program for the season is on Tuesday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. Barbara Zaborowski, Dean of Library Services and Special Projects at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, will speak on the use of the Main Line Canal in supporting Underground Railroad activities. The event will be held in the Visitor Center auditorium. It is free and open to the public.
Official NPS source
The 2025 Summit Level hike is Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. This hike, led by a park ranger, is 3-miles in length along the Summit Level of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The hike goes from the head of Inclined Plane No. 6 to the location of where the Summit Hotel was in Summitville, near the head of Inclined Plane 5. Reservations are required for this free hike. Please call the Visitor Center at 814-886-6150 to sign up.
Official NPS source
Our summer speaker series, Evening on the Summit, concludes on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center theater. Park Volunteer Brandon Sliko will present a free program about mapping the Allegheny Portage Railroad.
Official NPS source
Hike with a park ranger to the Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in America on Saturday, July 12 at 2 p.m. Reservations are required for this free hike that is approximately five miles in length. Please call the Visitor Center at 814-886-6150 to sign up and for meeting location details. The hike is rain or shine.
Official NPS source
Our summer speaker series, Evening on the Summit, continues on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center theater. Supervisory Park Ranger Doug Bosley will present a free program on Charles Dickens' 1842 trip to America.
Official NPS source
Travel the route of the Allegheny Portage Railroad with a park ranger on a four-hour van tour. This free tour is Saturday, June 21 at 1:00 p.m. and leaves from the Visitor Center. To make a required reservation, please call 814-886-6150.
Official NPS source
Please join us for an Evening on the Summit Program about Dr. James Christy. This free program takes place in the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site Visitor Center theater on Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. The program is presented by park volunteer Jim Effinger.
Official NPS source
Hike with a park ranger along the Summit Level for Celebrate Trails Day on Saturday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. The hike is 3-miles in length along the Summit Level of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The hike goes from the head of Inclined Plane No. 6 to the location of where the Summit Hotel was in Summitville, near the head of Inclined Plane 5. Reservations are required for this free hike. Please call the Visitor Center at 814-886-6150 to sign up.
Official NPS source
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial begin winter hours of operation on December 1, 2024.
Official NPS source
Enjoy a night of music with Dead Irish Blues on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. in the park amphitheater.
Official NPS sourceEnjoy a night of music with musician Tim Dabbs on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. Tim Dabbs has been teaching music and performing for over 40 years. His style for writing music includes the topical style and story song.
Official NPS source
Enjoy a night of Celtic Rock with the band Full Kilt on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. This local favorite plays traditional and Celtic songs with a modern twist.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service announces completion of the 911 National Memorial Trail Through Three Western Pennsylvania Park Units with a press conference at Flight 93 National Memorial.
Official NPS source
Living History Day is Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This annual event is free and there are program offerings for visitors of all ages. Programs include stone cutting, rope making, natural dyes, children's games, musket firing demonstrations and more!
Official NPS source
Travel the route of the Allegheny Portage Railroad with a park ranger on a four-hour van tour. This free tour is Saturday, June 15 at 1:00 p.m. and leaves from the Visitor Center. To make a required reservation, please call 814-886-6150.
Official NPS source
The 2024 Summit Level hike is Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. This hike, led by a park ranger, is 3-miles in length along the Summit Level of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The hike goes from the head of Inclined Plane No. 6 to the location of where the Summit Hotel was in Summitville near the head of Inclined Plane 5. Reservations are required for this free hike. Please call the Visitor Center at 814-886-6150 to sign up.
Official NPS sourceMost forests in eastern United States national parks are at risk due to browsing by overabundant white-tailed deer and crowding by invasive plants, according to a National Park Service (NPS) study published in the journal Ecological Applications.
Official NPS source