Pennsylvania\u2019s familiar blue-and-gold historical markers tell thousands of stories, but sometimes the places and stories closest to us are the easiest to overlook. This summer, Lumber Heritage Region intern Alex Lansberry set out to give those markers \u2014 and the history they represent \u2014 new life.<\/p>\n
Lansberry, an August 2026 graduate of Penn State University, worked with the LHR from May through August. While his internship included updating LHR partner information and other website content, his signature project became the creation of the LHR Pennsylvania Historical Marker Trail, a new online resource showcasing the remarkable history found throughout the organization\u2019s 15-county region.<\/p>\n
Over the course of the summer, Lansberry traveled throughout Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren counties, personally photographing and documenting 241 Pennsylvania historical marker stops.<\/p>\n
Those photographs became the foundation of a new webpage that brings the markers together in one accessible place, allowing residents and visitors to discover the people, places, industries and events that helped shape the Lumber Heritage Region and Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
\u201cPennsylvania\u2019s historical marker program is an incredible resource, but many of us drive past these markers every day without stopping to think about the stories behind them,\u201d said Holly Komonczi, executive director of the LHR. \u201cAlex took something that can feel static and made it engaging again. By traveling our entire 15-county region, photographing and documenting 241 stops and creating a way for people to explore them online, he has rejuvenated an important piece of Pennsylvania history.\u201d<\/p>\n
The markers are part of the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. For generations, the program has identified people, places, events and innovations significant to Pennsylvania history.<\/p>\n
LHR saw an opportunity to complement that longstanding program with a fresh, visitor-focused way to experience the markers within the LHR.<\/p>\n
The new LHR Pennsylvania Historical Marker Trail encourages visitors to do more than simply read about history online. Users can discover markers they may never have noticed, plan trips to see them in person and explore the communities where Pennsylvania history happened.<\/p>\n
For Lansberry, the project was also an opportunity to put his Penn State education to work on a project with a lasting impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really appreciated the opportunity to take the skills and experience I gained at Penn State and use them to redesign a tour that can continue telling these stories long after the signs themselves are gone,\u201d Lansberry said. \u201cGetting to travel the region, work on a project from start to finish and create something people can actually use made this experience really meaningful to me. My time with the Lumber Heritage Region is something I\u2019ll always value.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project also reflects LHR\u2019s broader mission of connecting visitors with the stories, landscapes and communities of Pennsylvania\u2019s forested region. By combining heritage interpretation with travel and exploration, the Historical Marker Trail provides another reason for visitors to travel throughout the region and discover communities beyond traditional tourism destinations.<\/p>\n
The miles Lansberry traveled also gave him a new perspective on the region he calls home. A lifelong Clearfield County resident, he discovered outdoor recreation opportunities, landscapes and communities throughout the 15-county region that he had never experienced before. From new places to fish and explore to communities he had previously only passed through, the internship demonstrated how much there is to discover close to home.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlex didn\u2019t just complete an internship project\u2014he created something that will continue to introduce people to Pennsylvania history for years to come,\u201d Komonczi added. \u201cWe are incredibly proud to give him credit for breathing new life into these stories and helping LHR showcase the historic magic that exists throughout our region.\u201d<\/p>\n