What to do: Record the correct answer after visiting each of the four locations as specified below to receive fun prizes, including Native American replica arrowheads, wooden nickels, and replica Pennsylvania Water and Power buttons. Handouts are available at the Uncharted Lancaster booth; however, a printer-friendly PDF version is also available for those who would like to get a head start on their adventure.
Return the completed form to the Uncharted Lancaster booth by noon to claim your prize.
1. Agnes
Location: On the Safe Harbor Dam fishing platform, find the high-water-level markers on the dam wall. 39°55’29.4″N 76°23’21.6″W.
Clue: Record the height of the Susquehanna River at Safe Harbor on June 24, 1972.
History Brief: At full load, 30 million gallons of water per minute pass through the turbines at Safe Harbor. With its record-setting rainfall for Pennsylvania in 24 hours, Hurricane Agnes changed that to 931,000 cubic feet per second, about five times the flow over Niagara Falls.
2. Petroglyphs
Location: On the wall before entering the Safe Harbor Dam fishing platform, find the symbols in the concrete inspired by the nearby petroglyphs of Big and Little Indian Rock. 39°55’31.1 “N 76°23’19.5 “W.
Clue: Sketch one of the petroglyph-inspired images found on the wall.
History Brief: One of the oldest human-made artifacts in the Susquehanna Valley and one of the most significant archeological sites in the northeastern United States sits a few hundred yards below Safe Harbor Dam. It is the petroglyphs of Little Indian Rock and Big Indian Rock. These stone carvings are believed to be between 800 and 1,200 years old.
3. Trestle
Location: Take the trail to the top of the Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge. The trailhead is within sight of the Susquehannock sign from the previous clue. 39°55’26.7″N 76°22’53.7″W.
Clue: Find the spot that exactly matches the sketch below. Record the four words found on the oval plaque. The first word starts with a W.
History Brief: Built in 1905 for the Atglen and Susquehanna Branch (also known as the “Low Grade Branch”) of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Safe Harbor trestle can hold two fully loaded trains. The last train to cross it was on December 19, 1989. Here are some fun facts about the bridge and project:
- The third-highest trestle bridge in the U.S.
- The second-longest trestle bridge in Pennsylvania.
- 150 feet high and 1,560 feet long.
- Total renovation cost: $9 million.
4. River Navigation
Location: Find the informational kiosk at the other end of the Safe Harbor Trestle Bridge, highlighting the construction of the Safe Harbor dam. 39°55’33.5″N 76°23’14.9″W.
History Brief: Until the railroad made it obsolete, downriver navigation played a significant role in forming a community near Safe Harbor.
Clue: Record the 80-year period when downriver navigation was at its heaviest.