9 Misconceptions People Have About Pennsylvania That Need To Be Put To Rest Immediately
By Beth Price-Williams|Published January 20, 2017
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Pennsylvania gets a bad rap sometimes – and sometimes those complaints come from the very people who live here. Beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder so what one Pennsylvanian might find charming, another might abhor. However, there are some misconceptions about Pennsylvania that just need to be put to rest once and for all.
Ever heard someone complain that only Pennsylvanians who leave actually succeed? Fortunately, history proves that false. Just take a look at Andrew Carnegie, who came to Pennsylvania to find success.
2. The longer you stay in PA, the less chance you'll leave.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, along with Harrisburg, may be the state's most prominent cities. But, that doesn't mean they're the only cities. Erie, Scranton, Lancaster, and Hershey are among the many cities and towns that make Pennsylvania so diverse.
Well, yeah, PA can be boring if you're not into the outdoors, museums, art, music, sports, dining out, the theater, history, nightlife... and the list goes on and on.
We're lucky enough to have all four seasons and sometimes all in one day. So, if you're unhappy with the weather, wait just a few hours and it will probably change.
Sometimes you just have to shake your head when people complain about PA's lack of culture. PA's brimming with culture – from one side of the state to the other – with such institutions as The Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts in Harrisburg, The Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. And, that's not even scratching the surface of all that PA has to offer.
If you've ever stood at a bus stop or sat on a mall bench, you know that's pretty much a farce. Sure, some people aren't friendly but the majority of us? We'll willingly (and happily) strike up a conversation with a stranger as we sit and wait for the bus, to be called for our doctor's appointment, or as we stand in a long line at the store.
Fortunately, that misconception is easily proven false by looking at how innovative our state and the people have been for generations. From George Ferris' invention of the Ferris Wheel to Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine, we've always been forward thinking.
Well...it's all in the eye of the beholder, right?
What are some of the misconceptions about Pennsylvania you’ve heard from out-of-staters or even fellow Pennsylvanians? Do those misconceptions bother you? If you know anyone who has doubts about just how great PA is, just show them all the things Pennsylvanians miss when they leave the state.
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