Centre: Nature, History, and Culture

Centre offers a variety of options for a trip: themed gardens and natural areas, opportunities for outdoor activities, as well as museums and historic sites. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to focus on landscapes and activity or on culture and history. The destinations below show the many ways these interests are represented in Centre.

Gardens, Lakes, and Natural Landscapes

The H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at the Arboretum at Penn State combine landscaped garden areas with a more open landscape: 10 acres include themed gardens, and another 14 acres feature rolling meadows and walking paths. This brings together a variety of garden spaces and paths within the arboretum. The arboretum also preserves a rare remnant of an old oak-pine forest.

The state parks also offer a variety of landscapes. Bald Eagle State Park includes a 1,730-acre lake at the foot of Bald Eagle Mountain. Forests, fields, and wetlands surround the lake. Boating and wildlife watching are possible in the park; its diverse habitats also make it appealing to visitors who want to observe animals in their natural surroundings.

In Poe Valley State Park, the 25-acre Poe Lake lies in a rugged mountain valley surrounded by forest. Black Moshannon State Park preserves 3,394 acres of forest and wetlands with distinctive natural habitats. Its lake has tea-colored water, fed by clear springs and small streams that flow through bogs. Bog hikes and water studies are among the activities offered there.

Activities on Trails and by the Water

Visitors who want to include outdoor activity in their trip will find a range of options. At Penn-Roosevelt State Park, you can hike the Mid State Trail. Gravel biking is possible there on more than 100 miles of forest roads. These two options describe different activities and provide a clear guide if you’d rather plan your stay around hiking or gravel biking.

Penn’s Cave offers two distinctly different guided experiences. The tour through the water-filled limestone cave takes place entirely by boat. There is also a fully guided, 1.5-hour off-road Jeep adventure: the route crosses 1,400 acres of rugged terrain, from the cave’s rocks to the mountain summit. The Jeep adventure operates seasonally, so check before your trip to see if the tour is running.

Public programs are offered at Poe Valley State Park from May through September. This seasonal schedule can help with planning; check the specific program dates before your visit. These seasonal events are distinct from year-round landscape features such as the lake, valley, and forest.

History and Museums

The Centre Furnace Mansion is the restored and furnished residence of the ironmaster of Centre Furnace. It reflects the period when Moses Thompson and his family lived there from 1842 to 1891. A remnant of a blast furnace at the intersection of E. College Ave. and Porter Rd. is also open to the public at Centre Furnace. The Centre Furnace grounds and gardens are open to the public from sunrise to sunset; check access before you arrive.

In Bellefonte, the Historical Museum is located in the Miles-Potter-Humes House, an early 19th-century Georgian house. The collections cover Centre County’s industrial heritage, influential county residents, and its textile history. They also address everyday life in Bellefonte and the surrounding area. History enthusiasts will find both regional developments and insights into local life there.

The Pennsylvania Military Museum includes a gallery, grounds with a pavilion and an approximately half-mile paved path, outdoor exhibits, and the 28th Division shrine and monuments. A capital project is affecting museum operations, so check the current status before your visit.

The Centre County Grange Fair has a 152-year history and is the only remaining tent fair in the United States. Together with the historic houses and museums, it offers a distinct cultural highlight alongside the nature and activity destinations. You can choose what to explore in Centre based on what matters most to your trip.

Discover more destinations: State College, Port Matilda, Pine Grove Mills, Bellefonte, Centre Hall, Spring Mills, Pine Glen, Perry County.

For the broader travel overview: Pennsylvania.