Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life, North America’s oldest human habitation site, has reopened after a $3 million renovation.
Located 35 miles Southwest of Pittsburgh in
Avella, the 16,000-year-old National Historic Landmark has unveiled a new observation deck where visitors can get an up-close look at ancient technologies used by the earliest North Americans.
Designed by
Pfaffmann + Associates, the new enclosure—which features 80-foot wood beams and cantalevers—was designed to preserve the excavation site, accommodate larger groups and enhance visitor experience. Boasting dramatic views previously only privy to archaeologists, the deck—which sits above the excavation site and Cross Creek—features a massive rock overhang and 17-degree slope.
“This was complex from the get-go. It’s a requirement to protect the site with a structure that doesn’t take away from the impressive rock features. Rob’s design accomplishes that,” says Meadowcroft’s director, Dave Scofield. “The goal is to be good stewards of this archeological resource. Public access and safety are also central.”
Additional visitor improvements include a newly paved roadway, new lighting and a 17th-century Indian Village. Attendance at Meadowcroft—which is operated by the
Senator John Heinz History Center—is expected to double in coming years, contributing $1.6 million annually to Washington County.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter—which was discovered in 1955 after farmer Albert Miller watched a groundhog uncover ancient artifacts on the site—also features a recreated 19th-century village and has hosted journalists from around the world.
Capital improvements planned for a $2 million second phase include visitor center renovations, expanded exhibition and program space, and a new seven-station chronological trail. Contractor is F.J. Busse Company.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Dave Scofield, Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life
Image courtesy Senator John Heinz History Center