National parks waive entrance fees for Veterans Day weekend
The National Park Service, including the five national parks in western Pennsylvania, will honor America’s veterans with free entrance to all parks for all visitors, over the three-day Veterans Day weekend, Saturday through Monday.
Entrance fees will not be charged at Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Wharton Township, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial, both in Cambria County. Friendship Hill National Historic Site in Springhill Township and Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County continue to be “fee-free” year-round.
Even though it may be colder outside, the five parks have historic homes and/or museums that visitors may tour year-round.
All five parks are now in winter schedules. Visitor centers at Fort Necessity, Allegheny Portage and Johnstown Flood National Memorial will continue to be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The grounds of the three parks, including the hiking trails, are open from sunrise to sunset.
Flight 93 National Memorial will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m.
The historic Gallatin House, located at Friendship Hill National Historic Site, will be open Saturdays and Sundays through April 1.
The park grounds and trails at Friendship Hill will remain open sunrise to sunset all winter for visitors who enjoy walking and/or cross-country skiing, weather permitting.
At Fort Necessity, the Mount Washington Tavern, Braddock’s Grave parking area, Jumonville Glen and the picnic area will be closed through April 1. Groups of 10 or more may call 724-329-5805 and make arrangements for guided group tours of the Mount Washington Tavern during the winter months.
All five parks will be closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Presidents Day. Fort Necessity, Friendship Hill, Allegheny Portage Railroad and Johnstown Flood also will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
For western Pennsylvania National Park information, visit the parks websites or visit www.nps.gov/flni/planyourvisit,the Park’s Facebook pages, email WEPAinformation@NPS.gov or call MaryEllen Snyder at 724-329-8131.