Discover Beaver: Parks, Lakes, and History

During a stay in Beaver, you can make nature or cultural interests the focus of your plans. Parks and lakes offer different ways to spend time outdoors, while museums and historic sites tell the story of the region’s past.

Parks, Lakes, and Nature

Brady’s Run County Park covers nearly 2,000 acres. Activities on Brady’s Run Lake include boating and fishing. Raccoon Lake offers a different measure of size: it covers 101 acres and is located in Raccoon Creek State Park, in southern Beaver County. These figures refer to different areas—the extent of a park and the size of a lake—and therefore do not describe the same type of area.

Public programs are held year-round at Raccoon Creek State Park. They include guided outdoor activities, hands-on activities, environmental education, and special events for all age groups. Specific offerings may vary. If you want to plan around a particular program, check the schedule before your trip.

Buttermilk Falls Park is a nine-acre natural area in Homewood Borough. It features a 40-foot sandstone formation and a waterfall. As conditions at the site may change, it is a good idea to check trail conditions before your visit.

Fishing and boating at Hereford Manor Lakes are closed indefinitely for safety reasons. Keep this restriction in mind when planning activities on the water.

History and Museums

Old Economy Village includes 17 historic buildings surrounded by gardens. Designated a National Historic Landmark, it tells the story of the Harmony Society. The Harmonists founded Old Economy Village in 1824. This brings together a specific founding date and an architectural ensemble: the buildings and gardens provide a distinctive setting for the historic story.

Fort McIntosh was built in 1778 and was the first fort of the Continental Army north of the Ohio River. The Treaty of Fort McIntosh was signed there in 1785. The two dates mark distinct chapters: the construction of the fort and the later signing of the treaty at the same location.

The Beaver Area Heritage Museum opened in 1998 in a restored freight station that was 90 years old at the time of its opening and formerly belonged to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. The site connects the museum’s history with a historic railway station and its former use.

Aviation History and Trip Planning

The Air Heritage Aviation Museum at Beaver County Airport operates a working museum and restoration facility. The museum owns and operates three airworthy warbirds; its aircraft collection may change over time. It is also dedicated to historically significant aircraft, materials, and artifacts through research, education, and preservation work, and presents a collection related to them. Check visitor information again before you arrive.

The topics offer different highlights: boating and fishing take center stage at the lakes, while the museums and historic sites explore their own chapters of history and preservation. You can shape your stay in Beaver around the subjects that interest you most and allow time for them in your travel plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Monaca, Beaver Falls, New Brighton, York, Lancaster, Potter County, Pike, Bedford.

Return to the main travel guide: Pennsylvania.