Route U.S. 30 stretches from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Astoria, Oregon, a distance of 3112 miles (5008 Km). This is the third piece covering my journey along the route in Pennsylvania.
Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum
I ended my last leg in the city of Somerset, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles south of Route 30. After breakfast, I returned to the Lincoln Highway and headed west. The road took me through several valleys along the Loyalhanna Creek, entering Pennsylvania coal country. My first stop of the day was at the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum.
The Ligonier Valley Rail Road ran east from the city Latrobe, and provided freight and passenger service to several coal mines, and their towns, in the area from its founding in 1877 until 1952. The museum occupies what had been the Darlington Station on the line. It has historical exhibits and several old train cars to explore. The station sits right outside the Idlewild amusement park, which used to have its own stop on the line. The park was founded by the rail company, and served as a draw for passengers, especially on weekends.
Lincoln Highway Experience
Heading west towards Latrobe, I stopped at the Lincoln Highway Experience. This 5000 square foot museum is run by the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor. It explores the history of the nations first coast-to coast highway, especially its path through Pennsylvania. It is filled with photos, historical information and artifacts from the highway’s past. These include the front of a gas station, and motel sign and a complete 1930’s era diner.
Latrobe
The city of Latrobe was founded in 1854 along the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Its purpose was to provide a station where coal from local mines could be loaded onto trains headed for the steel mills in Pittsburgh. Latrobe was also home to the Latrobe Brewing Company, best known as the original producer of Rolling Rock Beer. Walking around the center of town, I found an interesting mix of buildings from the 19th through the mid-20th century.
Greensburgh
Greensburgh was founded in 1785 as the county seat for Westmoreland County. Much of the downtown area has been rebuilt with late 20th-century government and office buildings. It is also home to the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. The museum was founded in 1959, with a collection based on works from the estate of Mary Marchand Woods, a prominent local philanthropist.
Westinghouse Atom Smasher
Driving onto Pittsburgh I stopped at the ruins of the Westinghouse Atom Smasher. Built in 1937, this was the first industrial Van de Graff generator. It was part of the country’s first nuclear physics industrial laboratory.
Duquesne Incline
On the south side of Pittsburgh, near the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River is the Duquesne Incline. This funicular lift (800 feet long with a 400 foot gain in elevation) was constructed in 1877 to carry freight from the riverside up to the top of Mt. Washington. There was an immediate demand by local residents, and as streets and truck traffic developed there was a complete switch to passenger service. Today it primarily serves tourists coming for some great views of the city.
Route 30 passes through Pittsburgh on I-376, along the Monongahela River, and then through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. It jumps off of the interstate near the airport, and passes through the city’s suburbs, and then through some of Western Pennsylvania’s coal country until it reaches the West Virginia border. That is where this excursion ended. I will get back when warmer weather returns to follow U.S. 30 through West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana.
Nuts and Bolts
- This leg of the trip was about 120 miles.
- Ligonier Vally Railroad Museum – Open Sat 11:00 Am – 3:00 PM. Entrance fee is Adults $10/ Seniors $9/ Children $6
- Lincoln HIghway Experience – Tue – Sun 10:00 AM – 4:00PM (Dec through Mar open Thu – Sun). Entrance fee Adults $15/ Senior $12/ Students $7
- Westmoreland Museum of American Art – open Wed – Sun 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Entrance free at all times
- Duquesne Incline – Open every day 6:30 AM. -12:30 AM. Tickets are $2.50 ($5 round trip) for adults and $1.25 ($2.50) for children.
