Approximately 250 million years ago, a collision between North America and North Africa created the Laurel Ridge and the rest of the Appalachian Mountains. Initially, the Appalachian Mountains stood taller than the Rocky Mountains but have been weathering away for the past 200 million years.
As daunting a task as it was to traverse the steep, rocky mountain terrain, Indigenous people, including the Monongahela, seldom had issue taking advantage of the vast resources Laurel Ridge had to offer. As nomadic people, the Monongahela used Laurel Ridge primarily for hunting and gathering, procuring what they needed for survival before journeying on.
As European settlers expanded westward, they were able to navigate the formidable mountain by using the many different footpaths carved out by Indigenous peoples. Navigation was important, particularly for troops marching through the untamed wilderness during the French and Indian War. Laurel Ridge remained pristine for much of its history, the abundant natural resources quickly drew in pioneers and entrepreneurs by the hundreds at the start of the Industrial Revolution. The early 1800s saw the expansion of stone iron furnaces that sprang up along the flanks of the mountain.
As transportation improved, logging and mining companies swept through the Laurel Highlands, exploiting the rich mineral and timber resources. Much of Laurel Ridge was clear cut, and logs were hauled down the mountain by way of the Shay Locomotive. By 1940, the area had been plowed and plundered by industry and drought, leaving in its wake a desolate, barren landscape lacking the pristine natural resources that were once plentiful.
In 1966, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy acquired 11,230 acres along Laurel Ridge, ranging from the Youghiogheny River to the Conemaugh River. As part of the Project 70 park movement, the land comprising Laurel Ridge State Park was purchased for the purposes of creating public lands and parks for conservation, recreation, and preservation. The land was conveyed to the Commonwealth as a substantial part of Laurel Ridge State Park and the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. The first portion of Laurel Ridge State Park and the LHHT were dedicated and opened officially on May 15, 1974. Decades later, we continue to enjoy all of the natural wonders this mountain has to offer.