Minimum Time: 1–1.5 hours

Start your day at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial Visitor Center, the site of the devastating 1889 dam failure that killed more than 2,200 people. Its exhibits, trails, and dam overlook explain the disaster’s causes, impact, and legacy. The memorial honors the victims while underscoring the importance of responsible infrastructure and disaster preparedness in protecting communities. The visitor center houses life-like exhibits and the film, “Black Friday”.

Visitor Experience Tips:

• After leaving the visitor center, stop at the parking area at the bottom of the hill on Lake Rd. on the right. Take a brief walk on the Spillway Trail.

• Annual Johnstown Flood Commemoration on May 31st.  See 2,209 luminaries in memory each life lost.

• Ranger talks (seasonal)

• Journey Around Lake Conemaugh Van Tours (seasonal)

• Dining Option – Morris’ Tavern & Restaurant

• Ice Cream – The Ranger (seasonal)

From the Visitor Center, follow Lake Road back towards Rt. 869, towards the South Abutment parking area. Walk to the overlook on the remains of the dam.

Visitor Experience Tips:

• Explore the Walk Through the Ruins Trail, off of the South Abutment Road near the parking lot, takes walkers to the bottom of the dam, through the breach and back up out of the dam on the other side. (1/3 mi.)

• The Carriage Road Nature Trail follows the carriage road that the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club members would have taken after they crossed the top of the South Fork Dam on their journey from South Fork to the Club House and cottages. (.9 mi.)

Minimum Time: 10–20 minutes (trailhead visit)

The Path of the Flood Trail starts in the South Fork Dam lakebed and continues 14 miles through the valley to the Stone Bridge in Johnstown. The POTF Trail was named the 2025 Trail of the Year, by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources!

• View trailhead and interpretive signs.

• Follow the start of the 1889 flood route.

Visitor Experience Tip:

• Optional: 30–60 minutes short hike; 3.5–5 hours for full 14-mile bike ride.

• For maps and trail details, visit: https://www.cambriaconservationrecreation.com/path-of-the-flood-trail/

Minimum Time: 10-20 minutes

From the South Abutment parking area, go back to Rt. 869 and follow the signs to the 1889 Historic District along Main St. There you can drive or walk along the street and see the original South Fork Fishing & Hunting Clubhouse and the nine “cottages” that belonged to the members of the club along Main St. in St. Michael.

Visitor Experience Tip:

• Look for the historic markers on the buildings along “Cottage Row”. Please be respectful as the cottages are now private residences.

Minimum Time: 1 hour

Travel to downtown Johnstown to the Johnstown Flood Museum, where exhibits, artifacts, and an Academy Award–winning film tell the story of the 1889 disaster and the city’s recovery. Housed in the historic Cambria Library, it features a dramatic relief map and an original Oklahoma House, highlighting both the flood’s destruction and the community’s resilience.

Visitor Experience Tip:

• Don’t miss the film, “The Johnstown Flood” shown in the second-floor theater.  The film won the Academy Award for “Best Documentary Short Subject” in 1990. The film differs from the film shown at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial; both are worth viewing.

• Recommended Reading: David McCullough’s The Johnstown Flood (1968) was his debut book, earning critical acclaim for its vivid storytelling and meticulous research, and launching his distinguished career as one of America’s most respected historians and biographers. The book is available for sale in the museum’s gift shop.

Minimum Time: 10 minutes

From the Johnstown Flood Museum, take a short walk to City Hall at the corner of Main and Market Street to view the commemorative plaques marking the water depth of all three Johnstown Floods:

• 1889 Flood – 21 feet

• 1936 Flood –17 feet

• 1977 Flood – 8 feet 6 inches

Visitor Experience Tip:

• Check out George’s Song Shop – American’s Oldest Record Store, located on Market St. across from City Hall.  (Limited Hours)

• Stop by Classic Elements for a good book and quality gifts, and grab a coffee at the adjacent Her Table next to Morley’s Square.

• A few blocks away at the corner of Washington & Franklin St. is the Ditko Spider-Man Mural, the world’s only Marvel-sanctioned public art. 

Minimum Time: 15–20 minutes

Walk back towards the Flood Museum and follow Washington St. towards Sargent’s Stadium to Point Park to view the famous Stone Arch Bridge. Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887, the bridge survived the 1889 Flood but caused greater devastation and loss of life as flood waters and debris, unable to pass through the arches, caught fire.

Visitor Experience Tip:

• For three hours every evening the bridge is lighted with colorful LED lights that are programmed to reflect holidays, special events and the time of year, beginning with a 30-minute lightshow.

Minimum Time: 30 Minutes

From the Stone Bridge, retrieve your vehicle, then follow Rt. 271 South to the top of the Johnstown Inclined Plane.  It’s the World’s Steepest Vehicular Inclined Plane!  The waiting deck provides sweeping views of the city and the narrow valley where the 1889 flood surged through at devastating speed, offering a clear sense of the flood’s path. You’ll also see the Stone Bridge. The Incline has undergone a complete restoration and is expected to reopen soon. Check back for updates!

Visitor Experience Tip:

• Stop in the Visitor Center just down the sidewalk from the observation deck. Get a close up look at the motor room and view other interpretive exhibits.

• Asiago’s Tuscan Italian Restaurant on the lower level offers delicious food and drinks with a fabulous view.  Verify the operating schedule.

• Just across from the Incline entrance, look up and you’ll see the Centennial Flag, one of the largest free-flying flags in the US.  Climb the steps to Mound Park for another amazing viewpoint.

Minimum Time: 20–30 minutes

From the top of the Inclined Plane, drive a few blocks to Grandview Cemetery, a Nationally Registered Historic Landmark, which honors the Johnstown’s history and those lost in the 1889 flood. Its Unknown Plot contains 777 unidentified victims, marked by the Monument of Tranquility. The cemetery also features notable burials, scenic grounds, and panoramic views of the valley, offering reflection on tragedy, resilience, and local heritage.

Visitor Experience Tips:

• Also interred are Lt. Col. Boyd “Buzz” Wagner, the first American air ace of World War II and John G. McCrory, founder of the McCrory 5-and-10 store chain.

• Download the Walking Tour Map from the website for an interesting walking tour that highlight’s the cemetery’s history and burial sites of notable Johnstowners.

• Open dawn to dusk. No pets or bicycles.