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Presque Isle State Park
Erie, Pennsylvania

42°09′24.12″N 80°04′14.16″WCoordinates: 42°09′24.12″N 80°04′14.16″W

Year first constructed: 1858

Construction: Wrought iron encased in steel

Tower shape: Square pyramidal

Height: 34 Feet

The Erie Harbor North Pier Light, also known as the Presque Isle North Pier Light, is one of the three lighthouses near Erie, Pennsylvania in the United States. The light, situated at the far eastern end of Presque Isle State Park, helps mariners as they traverse the narrow inlet between Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay.

Originally constructed as a wooden tower in 1830, that light was swept away by a schooner in 1857. The current structure was forged in France and assembled on site in Erie. It was moved in 1882 and again in 1940. The United States Coast Guard, which operates the beacon, changed its fixed red beam to an automated red flashing light in 1995, at which time the 4th order Fresnel lens was sent to the Erie Maritime Museum.

U.S. Brig (Flagship) Niagara in full sail on Lake Erie
(Approx. 3 miles out from the North Pier)
Erie, Pennsylvania

Bronze Ticket Booth
Erie, Pennsylvania

Since its grand opening, the Warner Theatre has established itself as a major cultural center for the region. Millions have passed by the freestanding ticket booth of solid bronze through the doors and stepped into the luxurious gold-gilded Grand Lobby. There they saw the beauty of rich tapestries and French gold-backed mirrors. A regal staircase with exquisite bronze banisters leads them through an archway of marble, gold gilding and draped tapestry to the mezzanine. Czechoslovakian glass and crystal chandeliers create the soft lighting that enhances the grandeur of a structure unmatched in stature, opulence and beauty.

Warner Bros., one of the world's largest producers of film and television entertainment, commissioned the building of the Warner Theatre in 1929. The design goal for their luxury movie palaces was to create an environment "twice as rich, three times more fanciful than life." Designed by architects Rapp & Rapp, the theatre was constructed at a cost of $1.5 million Depression-era dollars. The Chicago architectural firm built some of the nation's most ornate theatres including New York City's Times Square Paramount.

Warner Bros. also appointed the world-renowned Rambusch Studios in New York City to decorate the interior. Rambusch created a lavish art deco interior that would invite generations of theatre-goers to a palace of magnificence and fantasy. Considering the quality of the design and cost of the building materials used, the theatre would be virtually impossible to replace today. It was Erie's first and has remained Erie's only deluxe downtown picture palace.

When the Warner Theatre opened its doors April 10, 1931, more than 8,000 colored lights illuminated the 10-ton marquee that announced the feature film of the opening evening, "The Millionaire" starring George Arliss with James Cagney. Excitement and wonder of the patrons about the palatial splendor of the breathtaking new showplace filled the atmosphere.

In its early history, the theatre hosted various traveling shows. As well as presenting the pick of the major film releases, the theatre became an important link in the vaudeville circuits of the 1930s. On November 8, 1931, the Warner formally initiated a vaudeville season. Bob Hope made an appearance that November telling stories while sitting downstage on a barrel.

The "Mighty Wurlitzer" organ that once rose out of the floor and into the corner of the orchestra pit, provided music for vaudeville shows and accompanied the early talking motion pictures. Warner Bros. eventually donated the organ to the Western Reserve Chapter of American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts in 1969. The Cleveland Gray's Armory Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, now houses the organ.

In 1971, Cinemette Corporation of America bought the Warner Theatre from the Stanley Warner Corporation. In 1974, the Erie Philharmonic had its first concert at the theatre. Since then, the philharmonic has continued to perform there.

Cinemette operated the Warner until 1976, when the late Erie Mayor Louis J. Tullio heard the chain might want to sell the theatre. The mayor recognized the importance of saving it from planned demolition and had a vision of a civic center complex to provide venues for sports and arts entertainment to the region. With assistance from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, he negotiated a successful purchase of the building from Cinemette. Critical improvements were then made including installation of a new roof, restoration of lighting fixtures and rewiring of the house front and foyer areas.

In 1977, the Erie Civic Center Authority was formed and given the physical and fiscal management of the Warner Theatre, also referred to as the "Center for the Performing Arts." With this change, the policy of the theatre once again included the production of live performances.

In 1981, the Broadway Theatre League began to bring in a series of top Broadway musicals performed by New York-based touring companies. Additionally, the Erie Civic Ballet Company began performing on the Warner's stage. That same year, the Warner was listed on the commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Inventory of Museums and Historical Places, and on April 13, 1982, it was placed on the National Register for Historic Places.

Gettysburg National Military Park
72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
"Third California Regiment"
"Baxter's Fire Zouaves"
"Philadelphia Fire Zouaves"

Two monuments to the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment are south of Gettysburg at The Angle.

The main monument is at the stone wall of The Angle.

The secondary monument is 70 yards to the east.

The regiment was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Colonel Dewit Clinton Baxter. He was wounded on July 2, and Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Hesser then took over. The 72nd was part of the 2nd Corps - 2nd Division - 2nd Brigade, the "Philadelphia Brigade."

The placement of the 72nd's monument was at the center of a controversy that eventually reached all the way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. It stems from the fact that the 72nd fell back from the stone wall at The Angle during Pickett's Charge to a position now marked further back by a secondary monument. General Webb, the new commander of the brigade, tried to advance the 72nd but was unable to do so, struggling unsuccessfully with the color-bearer and finally giving up and going over to the nearby 69th Pennsylvania.

The regiment would not advance but it also would not retreat further, and suffered heavily stopping Pickett's men. Finally they pushed forward to their original position.

The rules of the battlefield commission stated that units must place their monuments on their main line of battle, which was interpreted as the rearward position. But the 72nd's veterans were insistent that their monument be at the Angle where their fighting started and ended. After three years of deliberations the court ruled in favor of the veterans, and the monument was dedicated at The Angle on July 4, 1891.