10 Quirky Facts About Pennsylvania That Sound Fake but Are 100% True

Living in Pennsylvania means life is pretty interesting. Our beloved state, after all, has a rich history, a vibrant present, and a promising future. How much do you know about Pennsylvania? Probably a ton if you’ve lived here for any amount of time. Read on to discover some quirky facts about Pennsylvania that sound almost too strange to be true!

1. The Eagles and the Steelers Once Played Together as the Steagles

Who woulda thunk it, right? It’s true, though. During the 1943 season, many of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers players served in World War II. The two rival Pennsylvania teams made history when the remaining players combined for a single season to play together as the Steagles.

2. The Official Drink of Pennsylvania Is Milk

Bottoms up! We might have an official drink—which goes well with such Pennsylvania classics as whoopie pies and Hershey’s chocolates—but there’s no official state food in Pennsylvania. Some argue that chocolate chip cookies should take the title, given their perfect pairing with milk. There's also shoofly pie (made from molasses and brown sugar and topped with a crumbly layer) in the running, regarded by many to be the state dessert.

3. We Get Our Weather From a Groundhog

All eyes turn to Punxsutawney Phil every Groundhog Day to find out whether we’ll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. Did you know our adorable Phil started quite the trend? Several other places now have weather-predicting groundhogs, including Charles G. Hogg (also known as Staten Island Chuck) in New York.

4. Welcome to the Chocolate Capital of the U.S. And…

It should come as little surprise that the charming town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, is the Chocolate Capital of the United States. This small town is the perfect place to get our chocolate fix and have a ton of fun. From Hersheypark to ZooAmerica, Hershey’s the perfect family-friendly destination.

5. The Snack Capital of the World

Forget being known as the Keystone State, we really oughta be called the Snack State instead. You'll be in no want of salty eats and sweet treats in our snack-tastic state. Pennsylvania is also home to Snyder’s of Hanover, Utz, and Peeps, to name just a few, so it’s not surprising we also live in the Snack Capital of the World.

6. Bassetts Ice Cream Is America’s Oldest Ice Cream Company

Those of us with a sweet tooth will likely agree that Pennsylvania’s a sweets paradise. Bassetts Ice Cream, America’s oldest ice cream company, has been satisfying sweet cravings since 1861. The Bassett family started the famous ice cream company that year in New Jersey, but frequently sold the sweet treat in Philadelphia, where it opened a shop in 1885.

7. Two United States President Were Born in Pennsylvania

The first was James Buchanan, born in 1791 near Mercersburg. The second was 46th president, Joe Biden, who hailed from our beloved Scranton. But presidents aren't all we have to brag about. We’ve had many other notable names come out of Pennsylvania, including author Louisa May Alcott, who was born in Germantown, as well as Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, who was born and raised in Allegheny City. Although not born here, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin also spent most of his life in Philadelphia and can be credited with many Pennsylvania inventions.

8. The Philadelphia Zoo Is America’s First

Philadelphia is home to the first zoo in the United States. First chartered in 1859 and delayed by the Civil War, it officially opened on July 1, 1874. Back then, admission was a whopping 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. Today, visitors can view some of the more than 1,900 animals that live at the 42-acre zoo, which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. 

9. Latrobe Is the Birthplace of the Banana Split

We went a couple of facts without mentioning food, so that’s not so bad, right? After all, how could we ignore the fact that the most delicious of ice cream treats—the banana split—was born in the very same town as Mister Rogers? Invented by a pharmacist’s apprentice in 1904, David Strickler sold the creation at Tassel Pharmacy for 10 cents. Today, a plaque and a giant banana split statue mark the location where the pharmacy once stood.

10. Two Baseball Greats Were Born in Donora—Do You Know Who They Are?

Stan Musial and Ken Griffey Jr.! Pretty awesome, huh? “Stan the Man,” as he was known, played for the St. Louis Cardinals for 22 years, winning three World Series. But he's not the only Donora native to impress baseball fans. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, Ken Griffey Jr. still stands as the 7th-leading home run hitter in Major League Baseball history.

Did you know these interesting facts about Pennsylvania? Continue building your knowledge about the second-oldest state in the U.S. and check out these strange but endearing Pennsylvania habits you might have if you call the Quaker State home.

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