Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Encyclopedia
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC), headquartered in Pittsburgh40°27′51.73"N 79°58′37.10"W, has been around for more than 75 years (1932–2009) and exists to protect the water, land and life of western Pennsylvania. Half of all the land that has been protected by land trusts in Pennsylvania has been conserved by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The organization also facilitates community floral gardens in 19 counties. This nonprofit organization has been entrusted with preserving Fallingwater
, the masterpiece home built by Frank Lloyd Wright
in Mill Run, Pa. that members of the American Institute of Architects recently voted the most important building of the 20th century.
of residents and tourists. WPC's work enables protection of important natural resources and creates economic benefits - from tourism in the Laurel Highlands, recreation in the Clarion River and
Loyalhanna Gorge, to forestry in the Allegheny National Forest and Forbes State Forest in Westmoreland County.
WPC plants more than 150 community gardens each spring in 19 western Pennsylvania counties.
Restoration projects included the Frank Lloyd Wright
designed Fallingwater
house, perched over the Bear Run waterfalls at Mill Run, is an internationally renowned architectural landmark. Public tours are offered.
give access to enjoy Bear Run and the pristine Laurel Highlands
in this region of the Allegheny Mountains
.
WPC's Community Garden Program and its more than 5,000 volunteers planted a quarter of a million flowers this past spring.
Fallingwater
Fallingwater or Kaufmann Residence is a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh...
, the masterpiece home built by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
in Mill Run, Pa. that members of the American Institute of Architects recently voted the most important building of the 20th century.
Activities
Since 1932, WPC has protected 225000 acres (910.5 km²). Most of that land is now publicly owned and makes up some of Pennsylvania's premier parks, forests, gamelands, and natural areas - visited by millionsof residents and tourists. WPC's work enables protection of important natural resources and creates economic benefits - from tourism in the Laurel Highlands, recreation in the Clarion River and
Loyalhanna Gorge, to forestry in the Allegheny National Forest and Forbes State Forest in Westmoreland County.
WPC plants more than 150 community gardens each spring in 19 western Pennsylvania counties.
Restoration projects included the Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
designed Fallingwater
Fallingwater
Fallingwater or Kaufmann Residence is a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh...
house, perched over the Bear Run waterfalls at Mill Run, is an internationally renowned architectural landmark. Public tours are offered.
Nature Preserve
Bear Run flows within the Bear Run Nature Reserve, protected and administrated by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Hiking trails in the nature reserveNature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
give access to enjoy Bear Run and the pristine Laurel Highlands
Laurel Highlands
The Laurel Highlands is a region in southwestern Pennsylvania made up of Fayette County, Somerset County and Westmoreland County. It has a population of about 600,000 people....
in this region of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
.
Projects
WPC acquired land for the creation of these state parks:- Ohiopyle State ParkOhiopyle State ParkOhiopyle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Dunbar, Henry Clay and Stewart Townships, Fayette County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The focal point of the park is the more than of the Youghiogheny River Gorge that passes through the park. The river provides some of the best...
including Ferncliff Peninsula National Natural Landmark - Laurel Ridge State ParkLaurel Ridge State ParkLaurel Ridge State Park is a Pennsylvania state park that passes through Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is home to the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail that runs through the park from the Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle to the...
- Oil Creek State ParkOil Creek State ParkOil Creek State Park is Pennsylvania state park on in Cherrytree, Cornplanter and Oil Creek Township Townships, Venango County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is adjacent to Drake Well Museum, the site of the first successful oil well in the United States, that was drilled under the...
- McConnell's Mill State Park
- Moraine State ParkMoraine State ParkMoraine State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Brady, Clay, Franklin, Muddy Creek, and Worth townships in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The main feature of the park is its man-made lake, Lake Arthur, formed by impounding Muddy Creek, which is and is used for...
- Erie Bluffs State ParkErie Bluffs State ParkErie Bluffs State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Girard and Springfield Townships, Erie County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is the largest undeveloped stretch of land overlooking Lake Erie in Pennsylvania. Erie Bluffs State Park is just north of Pennsylvania Route 5 near Lake...
WPC's Community Garden Program and its more than 5,000 volunteers planted a quarter of a million flowers this past spring.
See also
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionPennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionThe Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage...
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage ProgramPennsylvania Natural Heritage ProgramFounded in 1982, the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program gathers and manages information regarding the status and location of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s rare species and habitats and native natural communities...
- List of Pennsylvania state parks
- ConservationConservation biologyConservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, - Architectural conservationArchitectural conservationArchitectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of mankind's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuit is known as an architectural conservator...
External links
- official Western Pennsylvania Conservancy website
- official Fallingwater website
- Finding aid to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Records at the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh