Idlewild and Soak Zone is a family amusement park situated in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles (80 km) east of Pittsburgh, along US Route 30. Founded in 1878 as a campground along the Ligonier Valley Railroad by Thomas Mellon, Idlewild is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania. It has won several awards, including five from Amusement Today as the second-best children's park in the world. The park was established by the Mellon family in 1878, and remained family-owned for over 100 years. The park expanded greatly through the first half of the 20th century, adding rides including a Philadelphia Toboggan Company Rollo Coaster in 1938, one of the company's earliest. The park is home to the Ligonier Highland Games, a Scottish athletic and cultural festival that has annually drawn over 10,000 spectators. In 1983, the park was purchased by Kennywood Entertainment Company, which oversaw additional expansion, including an attraction designed and voiced by Fred Rogers based on his television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idlewild_and_Soak_Zone

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1707:

Under the terms of the Acts of Union, the Kingdoms of England and Scotland merged to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, a single kingdom encompassing the entire island of Great Britain with a single parliament and government based in Westminster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Great_Britain

1786:

The Marriage of Figaro, an opera buffa composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienna. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marriage_of_Figaro

1840:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland first issued the Penny Black , the first official adhesive postage stamp. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Black

1851:

The Great Exhibition, the first ever World's Fair, opened in London's Hyde Park. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Exhibition

1898:

The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish Pacific Squadron under Admiral Patricio Montojo at the Battle of Manila Bay, the first engagement of the Spanish-American War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manila_Bay_%281898%29

1956:

A doctor in Japan reported an "epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system", marking the official discovery of Minamata disease. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata_disease

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

mizzenmast (n): 1. (nautical) The third mast from the bow on a ship having three or more masts.

2. (nautical) The shorter, aftward mast of a ship having two masts, such as a ketch or yawl http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mizzenmast

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the human soul. --Joseph Addison http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joseph_Addison