Five Things to Do In: Philipsburg, Pennsylvania

Founded in 1797 by James and Henry Philips, Philipsburg was originally called “Moshannontown,” meaning black water. The town was built as a result of the growth of the timber and coal industries. Philipsburg boasts a wide variety of historic buildings. From the Simler House log cabin; to grand Victorians; to Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, designed by renowned architects Henry and Herbert Congdon, there is no shortage of architectural styles.

Known for its many firsts, Philipsburg was the home to America’s first screw factory, first underground mining lamp, first permanent wave, first deliberately staged train wreck and others.

The hub of Central Pennsylvania, Philipsburg is within a 30-mile drive of State College (Penn State), Altoona, Clearfield, DuBois, Huntingdon and all of the small communities in between.

Here are five things to do in Philipsburg to enjoy this Main Street town:

The Rowland Theatre: Catch a movie at the 1917 Rowland Theatre, with the largest movie screen in Central Pennsylvania. The theater’s lobby has a stained glass skylight and painted murals.

Historic District and Downtown: Take a walking tour of the National Register Historic District. Key points of interest include the mansions on South Centre Street and Presqueisle Street, as well as the classic downtown architecture; Simler House; Mud Church; Rowland Theatre; and Saint Paul’s Church. The town’s wide range of architectural styles features Victorian, Italianate, Romanesque Revival, Second Renaissance Revival, Neoclassical, Art Deco and Art Moderne.

Shop downtown Philipsburg to find everything from antiques to knickknacks, from furniture to gifts, from harmonicas to homemade candles.

1921 Restaurant: Dine at the 1921 Restaurant in The Philips Hotel, the town’s gathering place and cornerstone for nearly 90 years. The fine-dining restaurant offers fresh seafood and classic favorites with a twist.

Cold Stream Dam and Recreation Area: Enjoy Cold Stream Dam and Recreation Area’s fishing, playground, hiking trail, soccer fields, amphitheatre and trails for mountain bikes that lead to state game lands.

13th Annual Heritage Days, July 6-11, 2010: This annual festival celebrates the history and tradition of Philipsburg, with food, crafts and entertainment.

Philipsburg, a Gozaic partner, uses the National Trust Main Street Center’s proven historic preservation-based economic development methodology, the Main Street Four-Point Approach®, to create a vibrant district that embraces its heritage and creates new opportunities for old buildings.

Photos top to bottom: Rowland Theatre, courtesy of Matt Price; The Philips Hotel, courtesy of Emily Gette-Doyle; first day of fishing season at Cold Stream Dam, courtesy of Joyce Luzier; and Heritage Days, coutesy of Shan Karimushan.