The Roarbots’ series of NPS Adventures takes a big-picture view of one location within the National Park Service and highlights some of the best activities that site has to offer. This is usually done through a kid-friendly lens and almost always includes activities and suggestions we can recommend from personal experience. And pictures. There are lots and lots of pictures. Glad to have you aboard!

Welcome to Friendship Hill National Historic Site!

Stats

• Friendship Hill National Historic Site
• Location: Pennsylvania
• Established: 1978
• Admission: Free
• Social Sites: Twitter, Facebook

Friendship Hill is the country estate of Albert Gallatin. Who’s that, you might ask? Granted, his is not exactly a household name. He was both a Representative and Senator for Pennsylvania from 1793-1801. He was also a minister (ambassador) to both France and the United Kingdom during the 1820s, but today, he’s best remembered for his 13-year tenure as Secretary of the Treasury during the Jefferson and Madison administrations. OK, and?

Well, he’s the guy who was responsible for the the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark exploration – in that, he actually funded both. He’s also the guy who came up with the idea for a National Road (which eventually ran from Baltimore and St. Louis). OK, so maybe he’s more of a niche interest for history nerds, but he still played a significant role in early U.S. history.

This NPS site is nestled in the Laurel Highlands, way down in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania. It’s just up the road from Fort Necessity National Battlefield, and the two parks can be combined for a great day of historical exploration. You’d be forgiven for missing this site, though. As I said, Gallatin is hardly an A-lister, and Friendship Hill is often overlooked in favor of nearby Fallingwater and Pittsburgh.

But if you have the time and are in the area, it’s a beautiful house in a gorgeous setting. And it’s well worth the time and effort to visit.

(Click on all pictures to embiggen.)

Gallatin House

The house (also known as Friendship Hill) was Gallatin’s home from 1788-1832. The structure that stands today has been restored and also includes several additions and expansions that happened after Gallatin’s death. It’s a gorgeous building both inside and out, even if it’s somewhat awkwardly designed.

Several rooms are open to tour, though some of those have been turned into quasi-museums. The visitor center and gift shop are also housed inside. Only a few rooms are decorated to look like they would have while Gallatin was alive.

Grounds and Trails

The house is the centerpiece of the site, but the grounds are well worth exploring on their own. The first thing you’ll notice upon entering is the magnificent tree-lined central drive that leads up to the house. It might be the most photogenic stretch of the property.

There are 10 miles of trails criss-crossing the grounds, but the definite highlight is just a few steps from the main house. The view over the Monongahela River is the prime reason that Gallatin originally bought the property. Though it’s changed slightly since Gallatin’s day, it’s still a remarkable view that perfectly captures this region of Pennsylvania.

Junior Ranger

Like most NPS sites, Friendship Hill has a park-centric Junior Ranger program. Kids get an opportunity to explore the house, learn about Gallatin’s life, and learn a bit about what early Secretaries of the Treasury actually did. The Junior Ranger program is one of the highlights of any NPS visit for the little Roarbots. It wouldn’t be a visit without a passport stamp and a Junior Ranger badge/pin!

Friendship Hill offers your choice of a nice wooden badge or patch! They even offer a Senior Ranger program now for kids (and adults) over 13! (Canine visitors can also become BARK Rangers!)