The Heritage Areas of Pennsylvania can be thought of as expansive areas containing many different facets and aiming to deliver wide-ranging goals for residents and visitors alike.
State Heritage Areas are large geographic regions or corridors of the Commonwealth that span two or more counties. These areas contain a multitude of historic, recreational, natural and scenic resources of state and national significance that collectively exemplify the heritage of Pennsylvania. Through regional partnerships and public grassroots planning strategies, these resources are identified, protected, enhanced and promoted to strengthen regional economies through increased tourism, creation of new jobs and stimulation of public and private partnerships for new investment opportunities. This holistic and bottom-up approach to planning ensures that the legacy of a region – and the natural, educational and recreational values inherent to it – are preserved for future generations.
A Pennsylvania Heritage Area is a process as well as a product. It is both the means and the end to substantially enrich the quality of life in Pennsylvania and the communities and regions of the state where these initiatives are pursued. It is also about partnerships. The foundation upon which a heritage area is structured involves building and strengthening regional coalitions of community leaders, non-profit interest groups, the private sector, state agencies and the federal government. Its success is dependent upon partners being able to erase governmental and institutional boundaries while planning, acting regionally and strategically.
Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas System is fundamentally complete. Major themes have been addressed through designated areas. Therefore, the main focus of the Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Program over the next several years will be to continue to support activities and projects that are integral to the implementation of the heritage development, conservation and promotion strategies crafted and refined by the regional coalitions within each heritage area.
Other heritage areas
- Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
- Allegheny Ridge
- Endless Mountains Heritage Region
- Lackawanna Heritage Valley
- Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor
- Lumber Heritage Region
- Historic National Road
- PA Route 6 Alliance
- Rivers of Steel
- Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area
- Oil Region National Heritage Area