Keystone Stories

In the early days of the Commonwealth, nearly 29 million acres of Pennsylvania were covered in forest. By 1895, this number dropped to 9 million acres. While Pennsylvania provided lumber to build a nation, this invaluable natural resource was almost lost.

In the late 1950s, at the height of the drive-in’s popularity, Pennsylvania had more than 180 in operation. Today, Pennsylvania still has nearly 30 drive-in theaters in operation, second most in the country.

Creativity thrives in the Commonwealth—from community art projects to makerspaces to galleries and festivals, the arts play a pivotal role in bringing people together throughout our region.

Bellefonte, Pa. houses rich stories and landmarks of Black history, including St. Paul AME Church, founded in the 1800s, and believed to be part of the Underground Railroad. Its history has been preserved by local historians, as have many other aspects of Black history in central Pennsylvania.