Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

By Sandra Rhodes Visitor & Member Services Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau The Allegheny National Forest Region may be hundreds of miles away from Washington, D.C., but still has had plenty of presidential connections throughout the years. The Allegheny National Forest (ANF) was created in 1923 after President Calvin Coolidge signed a proclamation for federal purchase of available private lands for national forest purposes. Located in northern Pennsylvania, just 90 miles south of Buffalo, N.Y., the ANF now consists of more than 513,000 acres. Decades before Coolidge, President Theodore, a forward-thinking conservationalist, developed a master plan for managing the nation’s natural resources. This plan included the ideals of developing ways to keep the Earth and its resources safe for generations to come. To help meet this goal, the federal government created the U.S. Forest Service in 1905. In 1911, when William Taft was president, Congress passed the Weeks Act, allowing ...

Statement from Former President George H.W. Bush on the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act: “I congratulate President Obama for taking some time today to remember the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is no place in our society for prejudice of any kind, yet it was not that long ago when Americans with disabilities were often not given equal rights and opportunities. Whether the cause was ignorance or indifference, it was not acceptable. We can all take pride in how much the ADA has accomplished, which is evident every time you attend a sporting event, ride the subway, or go to work. Yet, there is always more to be done, which is why it’s good not only to celebrate our successes, but to look forward at what still must be done. As long as we never forget that every life is a miracle and each person has something to contribute, we will finish the job.” From: THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary