Uncover Hidden Gems Close to Home to Cure Cabin Fever and Indulge Your Travel Itch: the Oil Region National Heritage Area

The uncertainty surrounding travel is expected to continue through spring.

So, use this opportunity to uncover some hidden gems close to home to cure your cabin fever and indulge your adventure itch.

Historic Outdoor Recreation Wonderland

Northwestern Pennsylvania’s Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA) offers more than 65 miles of paved trails for casual walks and bike rides, heart-pumping mountain biking and hiking, world-class fly fishing, fantastic kayaking on creeks and power boating on the Allegheny Wild and Scenic River Water Trail — all set in “the Valley that Changed the World,” as the birthplace of the oil industry in 1859.

Designated by Congress in 2004 as a National Heritage Area, a new kind of national park based on historical significance, the ORNHA is like a museum you can hike, bike, fish and paddle through. Interpretive panels, brochure-guided walking tours and oil production relics dot the communities of Emlenton, Franklin, Oil City and Titusville and the woods, rivers and trails that surround them.

A dozen golf courses, birdwatching, camping, Oil Creek State Park, Two Mile Run County Park, the 144-acre Justus Lake and the longest continuous segment of the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail make the region an outdoor recreation paradise.

Arts & Culture in the Oil Region

Step back in time with the Victorian-style architecture and immerse yourself in the history and culture. Visit the Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry and DeBence Antique Music World, a museum dedicated to mechanical musical instruments including player pianos and music boxes, some dating back more than 100 years. Once the state reopens completely, visit Drake Well Museum and Park, site of the first commercial oil well drilled in 1859, to explore the outdoor and state-of-the-art indoor exhibits and enjoy special events.

When in operation, the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad excursion train rides give guests an engaging tour of “the Valley that Changed the World.” can even mail a postcard from the nation’s only operating railway post office car. Special events include wine tastings and Murder Mystery dinner theater. You can even book an overnight at the Caboose Motel and sleep in a stationary train car.

The National Transit Building, built in 1890 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, houses the Oil Valley Center of the Arts, which offers a variety of classes to the public. The building also includes the Oil Creek Earthworks Pottery Studio, the Transit Art Gallery and Gift Shop, and the National Transit Art Studios, where many artists create and exhibit their work. Graffiti Gallery, located in the adjacent National Transit Building Annex, showcases the work of local and regional artists. Exhibits, artists’ open studios and special events are scheduled throughout the year.

So Much to Do

Stroll the downtowns while socially distanced and enjoy the murals highlighting the history of the region. A variety of shops offer unique products including specialty olive oils, vinegars, chocolates, wine, antiques, jewelry, clothing and home goods. Breweries, distilleries and wineries pair great drinks with equally delicious grub. Local theater, live music, free outdoor concerts, street fairs and community festivals add to the vibrancy of these quaint communities.

History buffs can take a deep dive in the historical societies, libraries and visitor centers, as well as read the numerous plaques boasting about the region’s historical significance.

The self-guided auto tour “Washington’s Trail 1753” winds from Williamsburg, Va., through Allegheny County and the Oil Region to Waterford in Erie County. It follows a 21-year-old George Washington’s travels to deliver an evacuation order to the French stationed there.

Selfie opportunities abound at scenic overlooks, waterfalls, historic sites like the Rockland Iron Furnace and neighboring railroad tunnel, and public art. The monuments include one devoted to local football legend John Heisman, for whom the annual top college player award is named; he was a football star at Titusville High School.

Take the Trip!

Ready to road trip to the Oil Region? Visit the official site for tourism — oilregion.org — to get details and an Oil Region Guide to start planning today!

Sponsored by the Oil Region National Heritage Area.