Greene County: History, Trails and Experiences

Greene County offers a variety of ways to shape your stay: a museum in a historic building, trails with a history of their own, outdoor recreation and events each offer a different focus. You can balance culture, exercise and local experiences according to your interests.

Buildings, Collections and Local History

The Greene County Historical Society Museum is located in the former Greene County Home, also known as the Almshouse or Poor Farm, which opened in 1862. The museum houses well over 30,000 artifacts relating to the heritage of Greene County and the surrounding region. An exhibit on printing, featuring working printing presses, adds a hands-on dimension to the collection’s history of technology: alongside the objects, it shows how printing was done.

Another historic landmark is Greene Academy, the first institution of higher education west of the Allegheny Mountains. Today, Greene Academy offers free classes in painting, scrapbooking and crafts; class schedules may change. It brings both the history of education and practical creative activities into focus.

Trails for History and Exercise

The Warrior Trail stretches for 67 miles, beginning in Greensboro on the Monongahela River and ending in Moundsville, West Virginia, on the Ohio River. The trail is more than 5,000 years old and was used by Indigenous peoples for trade and hunting. It can be accessed where it crosses a road; yellow markers and mileposts indicate its route.

At seven miles, the Greene River Trail is considerably shorter and designated for hiking, jogging and biking. It follows the Monongahela River through Greene County’s coal region. Remnants of former mining operations can be seen along the way. There is parking and a public restroom at the trailhead in Rices Landing. For those looking to combine the region’s industrial history with outdoor activity, this trail offers both along the same route.

Mason-Dixon Historical Park has six hiking trails and a mountain biking trail. Dunkard Creek is suitable for fishing for people of all experience levels; Tucker Falls is a waterfall in the park. Parking and public restrooms are also available. Conditions may change locally, so check before your visit. The combination of trails, fishing and a waterfall offers a different focus from the two longer trails.

Events and Special Experiences

The Rain Day Festival takes place every year on July 29 in Waynesburg. The festival features live entertainment, arts and crafts, food and carnival games for children. As the program may change from year to year, it’s worth checking the specific event details before planning. Its set date makes the festival a special focal point if you’d like to plan your stay around an event.

For motocross, High Point Raceway near Mount Morris takes center stage: the track has been operating since 1976. Its amphitheater-like setting offers views of the track from every angle. This is a clear contrast to the trails and historic places that also define Greene County.

Local businesses also offer a range of experiences. Thistlethwaite Vineyards’ tasting room opened in the farm’s original barn in 2008 and offers free wine tastings. Availability may change. Lippencott Alpacas offers farm tours where visitors can meet alpacas and baby alpacas; an appointment is generally required. An appointment is generally required.

When looking for a vacation rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you like to spend more time exploring history and culture, discover hiking and biking trails, or plan around a festival date?

Discover More Destinations

Waynesburg, Aleppo, Potter County, Lehigh, Venango County, Mercer, Centre, Somerset County

For the main travel overview: Pennsylvania.