Introduction

"Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things."—Cicero

"Architecture is the triumph of human imagination over materials, methods and men, to put man in possession of his own earth"—Frank Lloyd Wright

From nearly the very beginning of human existence, we have sought out sacred spaces, as places to experience personal fulfillment and/or to gather and connect with one another in shared experience. So much of our collective memory is rooted in the power and magnificence of these buildings, yet, in places like the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, many of these structures have fallen into disuse or are fading as the region’s population continues to decline.

The purpose of this blog is to preserve the knowledge of the religious structures of this region. As part of the FA 0080 World Religious Architecture course taught at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, students conducted much of the research on those structures still in use. This blog is the result.

We always welcome comments that reflect personal memories or add to the histories thus presented.