Pennsylvania Canal (West Branch Division)

The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the Northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch being its principal tributary. The West Branch, which is 243 miles (391 km) long, is entirely within the state of Pennsylvania, draining a large mountainous area within the Allegheny Plateau in the western part of the state. Along most of its course it meanders past mountain ridges and through water gaps, forming a large zigzag arc through central Pennsylvania around the north end of the Allegheny Mountains. In colonial times the river valley provided an important route to the Ohio River valley. In the 19th century, its lower valley became a significant industrial heartland of Pennsylvania. In the 20th century, the upper reaches of the West Branch turned a yellow/orange color due to sulfurous drainage from nearby and abandoned deep bituminous coal mines.

Shikellamy State Park is a 132-acre (53 ha) Pennsylvania state park located at the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. The park is divided into two sections. The older part, on a bluff on the western bank of the Susquehanna River, is the 78-acre (32 ha) Shikellamy overlook in Union Township, Union County. The newer part is the 54-acre (22 ha) marina on the southern end of Packer Island in Upper Augusta Township, Northumberland County. Packer's Island lies between the city of Sunbury and the borough of Northumberland at the confluence of the two branches of the river.

The Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library, also known as the Dr. Joseph Priestley House or Cross Keys Inn, in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Fort Augusta was a stronghold in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the upper Susquehanna Valley from the time of the French and Indian War to the close of the American Revolution. At the time, it was the largest British fort in Pennsylvania, with earthen walls more than two hundred feet long topped by wooden fortifications. With a garrison of over 300 troops and walls specially constructed to resist artillery, it presented a formidable defense and was never attacked. It served as a refuge for local settlers during the French and Indian War and during the American Revolutionary War. It was abandoned in 1780 and dismantled in 1796.

The Northumberland County Historical Society is a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization, which was chartered on October 26, 1925 and incorporated on May 21, 1998. Its leaders, members and volunteers are dedicated to the collection, preservation and exhibition of artifacts, documents, photographs, and other items which tell the story of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania and its people.Headquartered at the Hunter House Museum at historic Fort Augusta in Pennsylvania's upper Susquehanna Valley, the Historical Society is also home to the Charlotte Darrah Walter Genealogical Library, and presents programs on topics of interest to historians, genealogists and members of the general public at various times during each calendar year. The facilities, which are open from March through December (but closed during the winter months), are physically located at 1150 North Front Street in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

The Northumberland Historic District is a historic district listed in the US government's National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The "gem" of the district is a National Historic Landmark, the Joseph Priestley House. It includes one other separately Registered Historic Place, the Dr. Joseph Priestley House, also known as the "Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library". It is bordered roughly by 4th Street, A Street, N. Shore Railroad, and Wheatley Avenue in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.In 1988 there were more than 100 contributing structures and 73 non-contributing structures in the district.

The Joseph Priestley House was the American home of eighteenth-century British theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher (and co-discoverer of oxygen), educator, and political theorist Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) from 1798 until his death. Located in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, the house, which was designed by Priestley's wife Mary, is Georgian with Federalist accents. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) operated it as a museum dedicated to Joseph Priestley from 1970 to August 2009, when it closed due to low visitation and budget cuts. The house reopened in October 2009, still owned by the PHMC but operated by the Friends of Joseph Priestley House (FJPH). Fleeing religious persecution and political turmoil in Britain, the Priestleys emigrated to the United States in 1794 seeking a peaceful life. Hoping to avoid the political troubles that had plagued them in Britain and the problems of urban life they saw in the United States, the Priestleys built a house in rural Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, political disputes and family troubles dogged Priestley during the last ten years of his life. After the Priestleys died, their home remained in private hands until the turn of the twentieth century, when George Gilbert Pond, a professor from what is now Pennsylvania State University, bought it and attempted to found the first Priestley museum. He died before he could complete the project and it was not until the 1960s that the house was first carefully restored by the PHMC and designated a National Historic Landmark. A second renovation was undertaken in the 1990s to return the home to the way it looked during Priestley's time. The home has been a frequent place of celebration for the American Chemical Society; they commemorated the centennial and bicentennial of the discovery of oxygen gas by Priestley as well as the 250th anniversary of Priestley's birth.

Northumberland is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,804 at the 2010 census.

The Beck House, also known as the Old Scott House, is a historic home located at Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It was included by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in its Inventory of Historical Places in April 1975, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The Bloody Spring is a historical site in the Sunbury, Pennsylvania area. Located on school district property, it is purported to be the location where a soldier from Fort Augusta that was guarding cattle was ambushed and murdered by a Native American tribe member in 1756, during the French and Indian War. His blood is said to have colored the water in the spring red, resulting in the name, The Bloody Spring. The site, located on Memorial Drive and .1 miles south of Shikellamy Avenue, is marked with a historical marker.

Sunbury ( SUN-berr-ee), Pennsylvania, is a city that serves as the county seat of Northumberland County. Nestled in the heart of Central Pennsylvania's picturesque Susquehanna Valley, Sunbury is strategically positioned on the east bank of the Susquehanna River. This location is notably downstream from where the river's main and west branches converge, adding to the city's scenic beauty and historical significance. Sunbury's roots stretch back to the early 18th century, reflecting a rich tapestry of American history. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 9,905, illustrating its role as a significant community within the region. The city is not only the principal city of the Sunbury, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area but also plays a key role as one of the three principal cities in the larger Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area. One of Sunbury's most notable historical highlights is its connection to the legendary inventor Thomas Edison. In 1883, the Hotel Edison became the first building in Sunbury to be illuminated by Edison's innovative three-wire electrical system. This event was so momentous that the hotel was later named in honor of Edison. The historical significance of this moment is further accentuated by the story of John W. Treadwell, Jr., a nine-year-old boy who had the honor of flipping the switch to activate the new lights, marking a new era in the city's development.Beyond its electrical history, Sunbury is home to several other historic landmarks. These include the Beck House and the Northumberland County Courthouse, both of which are steeped in architectural and historical value. The Sunbury Historic District, another key feature of the city, is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing the city's commitment to preserving its rich heritage. Today, Sunbury continues to blend its historical legacy with modern living, offering residents and visitors alike a unique glimpse into both the past and the future. Its strategic location, historical significance, and enduring charm make Sunbury a noteworthy and beloved part of Pennsylvania's landscape.

The Sunbury Historic District is a national historic district located at Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses 238 contributing buildings in the central business district and surrounding residential areas of Sunbury. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.