Kittanning Path

Early History of Trails

Historical trails, often called "traces" or "paths" contributed to the migration and settlement of large portions of the United States. Many trails were well established by the time Europeans immigrated to the colonies. The original 'travelers' on the trails were probably various types of wildlife as they moved from place to place in search of grazing lands, salt sources and fresh water. Native Americans were familiar with trails and utilized them for thousands of years prior to settlement by Europeans. The paths were also used to wage war, thus the term: “War Path”. Because they were often well worn, relatively easy to follow and led to grazing lands and fresh water Europeans utilized them as well on foot, horseback and with wagons. Many of these trails, or portions of them, were eventually utilized in the construction of roads and highways in modern times.

Location of Kittanning Path

The path ran in a generally East to West pattern running from the Juniata River in modern day central Pennsylvania to the Indian village of "Kithanick" (now known as Kittanning, Pennsylvania) and crossed the Allegheny mountains on its way. It wound through Cambria County, Indiana County, on through Shelocta County and ended at Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, on the western bank of the Allegheny River. In the early 1700s the area was inhabited by the Lenape (Delaware Indians) and Shawnee but European immigrants were making in-roads into the vicinity by 1721.

History

Traders at that time required licensure to trade with Native Americans and one such trader, John Hart, was given a license to trade with the natives in 1744. Lands in the western portion of modern-day Pennsylvania were closed at that time to white settlements by treaty agreement with William Penn. Mr. Hart constructed a camp ground for over night travelers on the path, naming it: Hart's Sleeping Place. Maps of the day marked it's location