PENNSYLVANIA TOURISM RESOURCES

ECONOMIC IMPACT:

The Liberty Bell is one of the nation's most visible symbols. It is located in Philadelphia - in the center of Pennsylvania's Philadelphia region.

• Tourism is Pennsylvania’s second-largest industry.
• The total impact of travelers’ spending on Pennsylvania’s economy was $34.1 billion for the year 2000, a 7.1 percent increase over 1999.
• The total impact includes both the direct and the multiplier effects from travelers’ spending.
• In 2000 there were 563,440 jobs, generating more than $11.5 billion in wages attributed to tourism and more than $4 billion in federal, state and local taxes.
• Pennsylvania is the fifth most visited state in the United States, accounting for 4.6 percent of all leisure travel in the country, and 3.9 percent of all business travel.
• Pennsylvania offers access to vital markets. Six out of 10 major U.S. market areas lie within a 500-mile radius of Pennsylvania’s capital. Within this radius lies access to vital markets that encompass:
  • 40 percent of the U.S. population and purchasing power
  • More than 60 percent of Canada’s population
  • 45 percent of U.S. manufacturers
  • 41 percent of the nation’s domestic trade and service industries

TOURISM ASSETS:
State Parks: 116
Campsites: 7,000 and 286 cabins
Forests: 20 state and one national (Allegheny National Forest)
Public Lands: 4.5 million acres
Amusement Parks: 25
Wineries: 64
Breweries: 80+
Rails-to-Trails: 1,121 miles
Museums: More than 1,000
Skiing Resorts: 33
Outlet Shopping: 11 outlet malls; tax-free clothing and shoes
Railroad Heritage: More than 30 tourist railroads
Heritage Regions: 11
Covered Bridges: 213 (most in the nation; only twin-covered bridges in nation)

A BRIEF HISTORY:

The Gettysburg region is a popular visit for Civil War buffs.

When first discovered by Europeans, Pennsylvania, like the rest of the continent, was inhabited by groups of American Indians. Swedish explorers established the first permanent settlement in 1643. In 1655, the Dutch seized the settlement but lost it to the British in 1664. In 1681, King Charles II, gave William Penn a huge tract of land in North America and named it, in honor of Penn’s father, the Admiral, "Pennsilvania," or Penn's Woods and thus began Penn’s Holy Experiment – tolerance for all religions and a refuge for every faith. After playing a crucial role in America’s Independence, Pennsylvania became the second state admitted to the Union in 1787. During the 19th century, Pennsylvania was a focal point for the Civil War and hosted its most pivotal battle in Gettysburg. The Commonwealth led the nation and the world into the Industrial Revolution during the latter part of the 19th century and into the 20th. Today Pennsylvania is a leader among states and competitor among nations in new, emerging industries and traditional industries.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Population: 12,281,054
Capital: Harrisburg
Ratified U.S. Constitution: December 12, 1787
Counties: 67
Local Tourism Promotion Agencies/
Convention & Visitors Bureaus: 45

SYMBOLS:

Elk are abundant in Pennsylvania's Alleghenny National Forest region.

State name’s meaning: Penn’s Woods (after Admiral Penn)
Motto: Virtue, Liberty and Independence
Nickname: Keystone State
Flower: Mountain Laurel
Bird: Ruffed Grouse
Tree: Hemlock
Animal: Whitetail Deer
Insect: Firefly
Dog: Great Dane
Fish: Brook Trout
Beverage: Milk
Ship: United States Brig Niagara

GEOGRAPHY:
Area: 45,820 square miles
Width: 310 miles (east to west)
Length: 180 miles (north to south)
Geographic center: Aaronsburg, Centre County
Highest point: Mt. Davis, Somerset County (3,213 ft.)
Lowest point: Delaware River
Lakes: One Great Lake (Lake Erie), 50 natural lakes, 2,500 man-made lakes
Rivers and streams: 54,000 miles

TRANSPORTATION:

Pennsylvania's Pocono region is home to the Steamtown National Historic Site.

Roads: The interstate highway system covers 1,758 miles. The 505-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike opened in 1940 as the first high-speed, multi-lane highway in the United States.

Airports: 142 public use airports and almost 800 airports and landing facilities in total – 6 international; 2 with daily flights to Europe; 16 scheduled service airports handling more than 23 million passengers annually

Mass Transit & Railroads: From subways to regional and local bus systems, Pennsylvania has some of the most advanced urban and inter-urban transit systems in the nation. The Commonwealth also has 60+ railroads and 5,600 miles of railways – 6th in the nation. The state is served by cross-state Amtrak passenger service and is at the hub of the Northeast corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C.

Ports: Pennsylvania has three distinct types of ports: freshwater, inland and Great Lakes. Philadelphia is one of the largest freshwater ports in the world. Erie is a major Great Lakes port and Pittsburgh is the nation’s largest inland port, providing access to the extensive 9,000-mile U.S. inland waterway system.

PENNSYLVANIA'S TRAVEL SITE

Virtually everything you want to know about Pennsylvania, events, historic sites and much, much more.
http://www.experiencepa.com/experiencepa/home.do

PENNSYLVANIA SEARCH ENGINES
Alll types of information and activities
http://pavisnet.com/search/

PENNSYLVANIA HIKING
http://pavisnet.com/hiking/

PENNSYLVANIA MAP
http://www.pavisnet.com/cgi-bin/gotopage.cgi?goback=http://www.pavisnet.com&dir=towns

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER INFORMATION
The Susquehanna River is longest non-navigable river in the USA and it is in Pennsylvania.
http://www.endlessmountains.org/river.cfm

ROUTE 6 NATIONAL HISTORIC ROAD THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA
http://www.endlessmountains.org/signs.cfm

PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL INFORMATION
http://www.endlessmountains.org/history.cfm

ENDLESS MOUNTAINS OF PENNSYLVANIA
http://www.endlessmountains.org

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGES
http://pavisnet.com/colleges/