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Photographer: Mike Wintermantel
Caption: Parker, Pennsylvania Marker
Additional Description: Panel 2
Side Bar
There are a variety of local options for hiking on the North Country National Scenic Trail. From Foxburg the NCT follows the Allegheny River on the paved bike trail, crossing over the mouth of the Clarion River and passing Indian Rock. A stroll along the walkway on the Parker Bridge features stunning views of the Allegheny River, and the approaching trail town of Parker. The sidewalks along River Avenue, Washington Street and South Jackson Avenue allow visitors to stop for lunch at several establishments. Further west, the trail enters a more challenging section in PA State Gamelands 95. Here the hiker will be treated to rushing streams, unique wooden bridges, rock formations, and a hemlock gorge-all overlaid with historic remnants of the past oil boom. Numerous trailheads and parking areas are provided.

Indian Rock
Local legend tells a story of the Indians keeping watch over their land by peering through the hole in the rock that looks out over the area that, in later years, became Parker's Landing.

Passing Time
on Hogan's Floating Palace

Ben Hogan The most notorious bad man of the Oil Region, Hogan settled in Parker's Landing in early 1870 and opened the first brothel here. Always at odds with local settlers, he moved his brothel, bar, and dance hall to his "Floating Palace," anchored in the middle of the Allegheny River, during the summer of 1871 to get away from local authorities. He left town in 1873 when he moved on to the next oil field.

Parker House Today
A log warehouse was built in 1824 by John Parker for his son Fullerton. It was converted into a hotel in 1869 during the oil and lumber booms. It housed the Parker Oil Exchange for a brief period in 1875-1876. The building burned in a horrific fire on April 3, 1873, along with an additional 59 buildings. The Parker House was rebuilt and has continued in operation.
Submitted: July 19, 2021, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Database Locator Identification Number: p598250
File Size: 0.985 Megabytes

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