The Human History

Humans, throughout history of  Wyalusing State Park have changed the look of the land. Humans have adapted the land that is now, Wyalusing State Park.
Perhaps the earliest changes to the park occurred some 1400 years ago.  Effigy Mound Builders made changes to the land. Effigy mounds in the shape of conical and linear mounds appeared. It is unclear as to what there purpose may have been. Later, Mound Builders constructed mounds in the shape of animals. Bear effigy mounds can be found at Wyalusing State Park near the baseball diamond and Pigeon Monument.
The next great change to the land of Wyalusing State Park may have occurred during the late 1860's when settlers came to the region and began to farm and raise animals in the area.

Before Wyalusing State Park, the land was known as Marquette State Park, and Signal Hill State Park. In 1917, it was officially named Nelson Dewey State Park. However locals called it Glenn Park after Robert Glenn, whose dream it was to have the land an official state park. Finally, in 1937, the park was officially called Wyalusing State Park. "So Wyalusing State Park...was named for the township of Wyalusing where it is located. The town of Wyalusing was the largest settlement in the township and was named for Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, a river town, which was named for a Native American Minsi village which was named for an unknown holy man who lived 1,000 miles from the park." (Wyalusing History, The Park, The People, The Land. Paul Kosir)

The next big change for the land of Wyalusing State Park, occurred in the 1920's. Paul Lawrence arrived. Paul Lawrence was the park's first superintendent. He and his wife, Gladys, the daughter of Robert Glenn, planted trees, laid out trails, and built a dance hall and recreation center in what is now the Lookout Point parking lot.
The park underwent the most changes during the 1930's, the years of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. Lawrence was instrumental in both of these organizations.
To learn more about the Human History of the park, be sure to attend the Walk into History on Saturday, July 14, at 1:00PM. The easy walk begins at the concession stand, located at  Wisconsin Ridge Campground. The walk is lead by former Wyalusing State Park Ranger, Bruce Klang.