Ribbon Cutting for the Space & Time Discovery Trail at Fort Roberdeau

The Blair County Commissioners plan to open the Space & Time Discovery Tail with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Earth Day, April 22, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

The ceremony will take place at the Mountain Lion Observatory behind Fort Roberdeau. The public is welcome to attend. Staff and volunteers will help guests park then direct them to the ceremony site.

Through the generosity of Allegheny Creamery & Crepes (Hollidaysburg), Saint Francis University hosted a “Cosmic Cocktail” lecture series at the eatery with proceeds benefiting the Mountain Lion Observatory at Fort Roberdeau.

Fort Director Glenn Nelson and Observatory Director Jim Krug presented a proposal packet of interactive project ideas for consideration. The Allegheny Creamery & Crepes owners selected to sponsor an educational Solar System Scaled Walking trail as their project. The Sun is the featured starting point of the trail around the observatory field with the eight planets distanced by scale correctly around one side of the trail loop.

The fort staff selected Revolutionary War events transforming the other side of the trail loop into a scaled historic timeline.

Two large interpretive signs mark the trail entrance introducing the walker to the discovery trail featuring both the solar system and history. The signage was created by Eric Beeler of Image Signs. The trail opens on Earth Day for guests to exercise, safely social distance and learn some history and astronomy along the way.

Fort Roberdeau National Historical Site and Natural Area is a Blair County Park. This national and county treasure features a reconstructed Revolutionary War-era fort built to protect a lead mining and smelting operation on the Pennsylvania frontier. The fort served a regional military garrison providing a safe haven for soldiers and settlers throughout the region.

Several men became pensioned veterans of the Revolutionary War as a result of their service at Fort Roberdeau.