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Clearfield in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Discover the Lumber Heritage Region

Pennsylvania Wilds

 
 
Discover the Lumber Heritage Region Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr.
1. Discover the Lumber Heritage Region Marker
Inscription.

Paddle the West Branch of the Susquehanna River where immense log drives once flowed. Gaze upon distant galaxies in ink-black skies. Search for traces of a logging ghost town. Watch an osprey plunge into the Allegheny River and emerge with a fish in its talons. Follow the route of a logging railroad as you bike the rail trail into the Pine Creek Gorge.

In the Lumber Heritage Region, roughly two million acres of public lands give both wildlife and humans room to roam. Elk, black bear, fisher, otter, deer and bald eagle find refuge in these forested hills and river valleys. Here, you can leave civilization behind or bask in the glow of historic communities built from these wilds.

Called by the Wilds
Deep forests, navigable rivers, abundant wildlife. For thousands of years, these natural assets have drawn people to northcentral Pennsylvania. In the 1800s, settlers discovered the region's wealth of timber, oil and coal. Vibrant communities took root here — from Williamsport to Clarion, from Bradford to Boalsburg. Today, visitors from around the world recreate in this mosaic of culture and wildness.

Step into Adventure
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to the spine-tingling bugle of a wild bull elk. Fish for native brook trout in a clear-flowing mountain stream. Hike through an old-growth forest amid centuries-old white pines and hemlocks. Leave the beaten path, and follow a scenic byway past sparkling waterways and spectacular vistas. Immerse yourself in the region's rich history as you tour a museum, shop for locally made artisan products, or join in a lumber festival. Appreciate the value of sustainable forestry and the wood products the forest provides today. Beauty, natural treasures, rich history, and outdoor adventure — you'll find it here in the Lumber Heritage Region.

[Photo captions, top to bottom, read]
• West Branch Susquehanna River from Hyner View State Park.

• In 1897, Cross Fork was reported to be the third in lumber production in Pennsylvania. By 1920, the site was a ghost town.

• Tucked in a scenic valley in central Pennsylvania, Bellefonte's historic district offers quaint shops, fine dining, and lodging in historic bed and breakfast inns.
 
Erected by PA DCNR, PA Wilds, and PA Lumber Heritage Region.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in
Discover the Lumber Heritage Region Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 12, 2024
2. Discover the Lumber Heritage Region Marker
On a different side of the kiosk
these topic lists: EnvironmentIndustry & CommerceSettlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
 
Location. 41° 1.404′ N, 78° 26.413′ W. Marker is in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, in Clearfield County. It is at the intersection of Front Street (Pennsylvania Route 153) and Locust Street, on the right when traveling south on Front Street. Marker is in Lower Witmer Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 East Locust Street, Clearfield PA 16830, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Pennsylvania Wilds. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Civilization in the Wilds (here, next to this marker); Clearfield's Early Inhabitants (here,
Cross Fork Village Photo on Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 12, 2024
3. Cross Fork Village Photo on Marker
next to this marker); West Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Roger W. Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Clearfield County Historical Society (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clearfield County (about 400 feet away); Old Town Historic District (about 500 feet away); Bigler House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clearfield.
 
Regarding Discover the Lumber Heritage Region. Although primarily focused on tourism, the marker does have an historic photo from Pennsylvania's lumber era.
 
Also see . . .
1. Lumber Heritage Region. (Submitted on July 14, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Pennsylvania Wilds. (Submitted on July 14, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 441 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
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Jul. 24, 2026