Things To Do Near Johnstown Flood National Memorial
Start your visit to the Johnstown Flood National Memorial at the visitor center, where you can watch a documentary outlining the events on that fateful day. Take a hike to see the outside of some of the cabins belonging to the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. Annually, on May 31, a wreath-laying ceremony is held along with the lighting of a luminary for each person who died on that day as water as wide as the Mississippi River came crashing through the community.
Hiking Trails
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South Fork Dam Trail
Start at the South Fork Dam south parking lot. Follow this trail that runs down a series of steps to Lake Conemaugh’s dry lakebed. The path then crosses the Little Conemaugh River and the gap that the floodwaters created in the dam. Finally, it ascends back up some steps until it ends near where it began. Informational panels near the trail allow you to understand Johnstown flood events.
Location
South Fork Dam South Parking Lot, South Abutment Road, St. Michael, Pennsylvania 15951
Length
.4 miles
Intensity
Moderate
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Arbor Trail Loop
The Arbor Trail Loop starts in the upper part of the South Fork south parking lot. This trail was used by the carriages bringing wealthy people from Philadelphia to the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club cottages in the late 1800s. This relatively flat trail runs through old-growth woods. There are informative markers along the way explaining the road and the events of the flood.
Location
South Fork Dam South Parking Lot, South Abutment Road, St. Michael, Pennsylvania 15951
Length
1.1 miles
Intensity
Easy
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Downtown Johnstown Walking Tour
This hike starts at Main and Bedford Streets in Johnstown and runs by several buildings constructed following the flood. You will also see the only church left standing during the flood and the Odd Fellows Lodge, where many spent the first nights after the flood. Many of the buildings have beautiful Greek Revival detailing.
Location
Main and Bedford Streets, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15901
Length
2 miles
Intensity
Easy
Sightseeing
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Johnstown Inclined Plane
Billed as the world’s steepest vehicular inclined plane, workers constructed this funicular in 1893 to whisk people out of the valley if another flood threatened. It was used in 1936 and 1977 for that very purpose. When not rescuing people, it served as a quick and easy way to get from Johnstown to the communities built above the valley after the Great Flood of 1889.
Location
711 Edgehill Drive, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15905
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Grandview Cemetary
After hurrying to bury the dead after the Johnstown Flood, people were buried in mass graves. Later, the bodies were exhumed, and many identified. You can see 777 white tombstones at this cemetery from those who were never identified, along with a statue erected in 1892 to honor them and others who perished during the flood. This cemetery is also home to several graves of soldiers who died during World War I and II.
Location
801 Millcreek Road, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15905
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Wagner-Ritter House and Garden
See a working-class home by visiting the Wagner-Ritter House and Garden. Learn about how 19th-century housework was done, as well as information about toys and gardening at this home. Workers constructed the home in the late 1860s, and the historical society has reconstructed a barn, a privy, and a bake-oven shelter at this site. You can also see a typical German-style raised bed garden.
Location
418 Broad Street Johnstown Pennsylvania 15906
Museums
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Johnstown Flood Museum
Learn more about the Johnstown flood of 1889 by visiting the Johnstown Flood Museum. See the interactive map to view how the damage from the flood spread downstream. View photos and exhibits related to the event. Additionally, tour the Oklahoma House to see how survivors lived in the weeks following the flood.
Location
304 Washington Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15905
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Heritage Discovery Center
Choose a card at the Heritage Discovery Center and view, smell, and touch exhibits throughout this museum that fictional immigrants would have experienced when they moved to Johnstown between 1880 and 1914. Discover what life was like in early steel and coal mines, and see what Johnstown looked like in about 1907. End your visit by listening to recorded interviews of immigrants, their children, and their grandchildren.
Location
Broad Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15906
Nearby Shops and Restaurants
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Valko's AG Store
Find picnic makings at Valko's AG Store. This family-owned store is a great place to shop for meats for a cookout because the staff members butcher their own meat. You can find many ethnic foods at this grocery store as well.
Location
511 Maple Street, South Fork, Pennsylvania 15956
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Classic Elements Inc.
Start by finding a new women’s classic outfit at Classic Elements Inc. Then, shop for gifts that include stationery, health and beauty products, jewelry, and candles for a friend or for yourself. End your visit by selecting from the large selection of coffee beans from around the world.
Location
345 Main Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15901
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Vick's
Get excellent pub food and cheap adult beverages at Vick’s, which stays open late. The staff has been doing their jobs for years and their level of experience shows.
Location
219 Lake Street, South Fork, Pennsylvania 15956
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Country Inn Bar & Grill
Get a great hamburger or barbecue sandwich at Country Inn Bar & Grill. This establishment also offers outstanding wings and pizza. There is a family-friendly restaurant that is separate from the bar.
Location
615 Ragers Hill Road, South Fork, Pennsylvania 15956