The Buchanan State Forest was named in honor of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States. The area consists of five principle tracts that cover seventy-five thousand acres of Commonwealth owned forest lands, administered by the Bureau of Forestry.

The Buchanan State Forest was named in honor of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States. The area consists of five principle tracts that cover seventy-five thousand acres of Commonwealth owned forest lands, administered by the Bureau of Forestry.

In Bedford County there is a saltpeter cave within the Sweet Root Natural Area where saltpeter had been produced for gunpowder before and during the American Revolution. Close by are the Resettlement lands, containing several old cemeteries that date back to pre-Civil War days.

Winding through Allens Valley and westward over Sideling Hill in Fulton County are traces of an early military highway known as the Forbes or Forbes-Burd Road, built by General John Forbes and Colonel James Burd. This served as a link between Carlisle and Pittsburgh. It provided the means to carry British military supplies to their western outposts at Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne.

Cowans Gap marks the home site of one of the earliest settlers, British Major Samual Cowan who farmed the area which is now Cowans Gap State Park.

Further south near Cove Gap, is Buchanans Birthplace Historical Park, the birthplace of James Buchanan. The site, formerly known as Stoney Batter, is marked by an imposing stone pyramid surrounded by 3000 Norway spruce trees.

On Sideling Hill Mountain, along old logging trails bearing such names as Hinish and Sproat, there are remnants of logging railroad spurs built by the Reichly Brothers at the turn of the century. Nestled at the foot of the western slope of Sideling Hill, near Oregon Creek, is the Oregon Ranger Station, site of the former CCC Camp No. S-52 which was built in 1933. During the great depression several hundred young men without jobs lived here and constructed most of the forest roads and trails which still exist near this area.

In 1940 this camp became quarters for conscientious objectors, draftees who were excused from bearing arms during World War II.

In 1944, the site was surrounded with a high barbed wire fence and used again by the Army, to house German prisoners of war. Today, the observant visitor can still find evidence of the P.O.W. and CCC Camp facilities.

Less than a quarter mile from the Oregon Camp is the unused west portal of the Sideling Hill Tunnel. This tunnel and the Rays Hill Tunnel were built in 1939 as part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which opened October 1, 1940. Millions of vehicles passed through these portals until a bypass was constructed over the two mountains in 1968.

Almost hidden in Woodridge Hollow is an aqueduct or culvert, a masterpiece of native sandstone measuring approximately 15 feet wide, 10 feet high and 199 feet in length. It was constructed by several hundred stone masons and laborers brought in from Sicily. The structure was completed sometime in 1884-1885, and was meant to carry the waters of Woodridge Run beneath the South Penn Railroad which would have traversed northern Fulton County via tunnels through Sideling Hill and Rays Hill. The South Penn line was never finished but much of the route, including the two tunnels, was utilized by the Pennsylvania Turnpike.