Pennsylvania Vacation Guide System

Pennsylvania Fun Facts

Capital: Harrisburg

State abbreviation/Postal code: Pa./PA

Governor: Tom Corbett, R (to Jan. 2015)

Lieut. Governor: Jim Cawley, R (to Jan. 2015)

Senators: Bob Casey, D (to Jan. 2013);
Pat Toomey, R (to Jan. 2017)

U.S. Representatives: 19

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Entered Union (rank): Dec. 12, 1787 (2)

Present constitution adopted: 1968

Motto: Virtue, liberty, and independence

State symbols:

flower	mountain laurel (1933)
tree	hemlock (1931)
bird	ruffed grouse (1931)
dog	Great Dane (1965)
colors	blue and gold (1907)
song	“Pennsylvania” (1990)

Nickname: Keystone State

Origin of name: In honor of Adm. Sir William Penn, father of William Penn. It means “Penn's Woodland.”

10 largest cities (2005 est.): Philadelphia, 1,463,281; Pittsburgh, 316,718; Allentown, 106,992; Erie, 102,612; Reading, 80,855; Scranton, 73,120; Bethlehem, 72,895; Lancaster, 54,757, Harrisburg, 47,472, Altoona, 47,176

Land area: 44,817 sq mi. (116,076 sq km)

Geographic center: In Centre Co., 2¹/2 mi. SW of Bellefonte

Number of counties: 67

Largest county by population and area: Philadelphia, 1,463,281 (2005); Lycoming, 1,235 sq mi.

State forests: over 2 mil. ac.

State parks: 116

Residents: Pennsylvanian

2005 resident population est.: 12,429,616

2000 resident census population (rank): 12,281,054 (6). Male: 5,929,663 (48.3%); Female: 6,351,391 (51.7%). White: 10,484,203 (85.4%); Black: 1,224,612 (10.0%); American Indian: 18,348 (0.1%); Asian: 219,813 (1.8%); Other race: 188,437 (1.5%); Two or more races: 142,224 (1.2%); Hispanic/Latino: 394,088 (3.2%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 76.2; 65 and over: 15.6; median age: 38.0.

The Barnes Foundation will make you realize what a lucky man Dr. Albert Barnes was, and how lucky we all are that we can share his wealth. Barnes' legacy is the museum which bears his name, housed in his former home and filled to the brim with his collection of Old Masters and Impressionist works. The sheer number of Renoir, Matisse and Cezanne canvasses (more Cezannes here than anywhere else in the world) is overwhelming. Barnes' eclectic style of display (ornate ironwork is intermingled with the paintings in every room), as well as his penchant for pairing an El Greco or a Rubens with a Van Gogh or Renoir, will make you look at art a bit differently, which is exactly what the collector wanted. Old American antiques -- tables, chairs and chests topped with vases, candlesticks and ornate handwork -- also fill the rooms.

The liberty bell may be the most famous member of Independence National Historical Park, but there's a lot more to see in this corner of the cradle of liberty. Start your pilgrimage at Washington Square, another one of Penn's five original squares. This square is a delightful medley of trees and benches, and you'll even find benches arranged in a cozy cluster of four, the better for chatting with friends. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution is at the center of the square, and all around are charming brick buildings steeped in history.

Independence Hall has been beautifully restored, while Franklin Court is a window on the life and passions of this statesman, scholar and inventor, located where his house once stood. Elfreth's Alley is one of the oldest streets in the area, a narrow passageway where you can pop into an early 18th-century home and imagine what life must have been like at that time. And then there's the bell, 2,080 pounds of bronze which have come to symbolize freedom and liberty to people around the world. The bell was last rung in 1846 to commemorate George Washington's birthday. It was cast in 1753 and originally hung in Independence Hall, where it was used to call Philadelphians for important announcements, special occasions or in cases of emergency. The famous crack occurred while repairmen were trying to fix a smaller crack -- oops. While it will probably never ring again (ringing would only cause further damage), its presence alone is powerful and moving.

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