This section of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association Web site gives you more information about JAHA as an organization, and how you can be a part of what we do. Choose from the navigation bar to the left to learn more.

Long-Range JAHA Plans
JAHA's long-range goal is to complete the development of the Johnstown Discovery Network - a group of history museums and landmark historical sites located within two adjoining National Historic Districts. JAHA has been working toward this goal for the past decade, positioning Johnstown as a heritage tourism destination that tells the story of the social and industrial forces that transformed America after the Civil War. Studies have shown that this plan has the potential to support community revitalization efforts in the City of Johnstown, and JAHA currently has a capital campaign underway to help realize many of the plan's goals.
Johnstown's economy, which had been based on steel and coal for about 140 years, is completely different today because of major changes in those industries. So Johnstown itself can be viewed as a living museum of industrial development and the culture that supported it. These "exhibits" provide the basis for attracting visitors and investment to the community, benefiting residents as well as visitors. JAHA's collections and facilities will interpret this important legacy, linking Johnstown's past with its future.
The projects in the Johnstown Discovery Network are being completed by JAHA, by JAHA in partnership with other agencies, and external agencies working on their own. Several of the projects proposed in the Johnstown Discovery Network have been accomplished or are soon to be accomplished, including: The Johnstown Flood Museum, which was reopened by JAHA in 1989 The opening of the Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center by JAHA in 2001 The construction of the first section of the Johnstown Urban Greenway in 2003 The opening of the Wagner-Ritter House & Garden by JAHA in June 2006
Remaining large projects include: Rehabilitation and development of programs at the Cambria Ironworks Construction of the Johnstown Children's Museum portion of the Heritage Discovery Center; construction began on this in fall 2006, and the facility's projected opening is summer 2008 Restoring the Cambria Ironworks Blacksmith Shop and attracting a partner who will conduct live forging operations at the site
Also included in the Johnstown Discovery Network are the following: The Johnstown Inclined Plane The former Pennsylvania Railroad Station and Main Line The Cambria City National Historic District, which preserves the ethnic and working class character of this industrial city The Downtown Johnstown National Historic District, which contains sites related to the 1889 flood The historic Cambria Ironworks, the only steel mill listed as a National Historic Landmark For a map of the Johnstown Discovery Network in PDF format, click here.