MOUNT JEWETT — State officials say finalized exhibit designs for the under-construction Kinzua Bridge State Park Office/Visitor Center will be unveiled next month.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will hold an open house for stakeholders and interested members from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Mount Jewett Fire Hall at 2 Gallup Ave.
“The viaduct at Kinzua Bridge State Park is one of the premier tourist attractions in McKean County and the Pennsylvania Wilds, and we have many partners who over the years have contributed to its promotion and success,” DCNR Bureau of State Parks Director Dave Kemmerer said in a prepared statement. “This is an opportunity for the department to thank all those involved with the year-long development of these exhibits, present updates on the building progress, and provide our stakeholders with a ‘sneak peek’ of the exhibit designs.”
The meeting will include a project overview, presentation of final exhibit designs and construction updates. Light refreshments will be provided.
The visitor center will house 2,800-square-feet of exhibit space in two exhibit halls and a lobby.
One of the exhibit themes includes the dramatic landscape of the Allegheny Plateau, which state officials say is rich in natural resources.
“These natural resources have stimulated the regional economy over time and continue to do so today,” according to a press release.
Another theme is the Kinzua Viaduct itself, symbolizing the engineering industry advances made in the late 1800s that supported the Industrial Revolution and as an inspiring reminder of the inventiveness, resourcefulness and “can do” spirit of the people of the late 1800s.
The exhibits will also have a theme revolving around the Kinzua Bridge State Park, which state officials say offers unique opportunities for experiencing natural beauty, observing wildlife, understanding cultural history and participating in recreational activities.
The 339-acre Kinzua Bridge State Park features remnants of the 2,053-foot long viaduct that was built of iron in 1882 and then rebuilt of steel in 1900. The viaduct, commonly referred to as a railroad bridge, is a series of arches that carried the railroad over the wide valley.
Eleven towers of the 20-tower viaduct were toppled by a tornado in 2003. In 2011, DCNR opened a pedestrian walkway with a glass-bottom observation area down into the Kinzua Gorge on the remaining half of the bridge.
The bridge and observation deck remain open during park office and visitor center construction, according to officials.
Those interested in attending the meeting should register by July 29 by contacting park staff at kinzuabridgesp@pa.gov.
For more information about Kinzua Bridge State Park, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us or call 888-PA-PARKS.
