Our Historical Significance

Blairsville, founded in 1760, often is referred to as the “Gateway to the West.” Located along the Conemaugh River and at the foothills of Chestnut Ridge, it gained recognition as a transportation hub that fueled the town’s growth. The town was named after John Blair, who was president of the Huntington, Cambria and Indiana Turnpike that ran through the center of town to connect wagons transporting goods and materials to the new city of “Pittsbourgh.”

Blairsville was officially incorporated on March 25, 1825.  By all accounts, the town was flourishing as the area was rich in abundance of salt, iron and coal.  In 1829, the noted journalist, Anne Royall, traveled to Blairsville and reported that the community “has the appearance of enchantment.” For more information on Blairsville history; contact www.blairsvillehistoric.com

Increasingly, the Cemetery’s historical importance during the Civil War is now being discovered, as it was a well-known, highly traveled route along the Underground Railroad (UGRR). The UGRR has been awarded the “Certificate of Acceptance” by the National Park Service into its National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The UGRR regularly conducts tours of the Cemetery, enabling visitors to discover and interact with notable figures from Blairsville’s past.  For learn more, visit www.undergroundrailroadblairsvillepa.com