Join us for the final installment of our 2025 Lincoln Highway Talk Series, Diners, Dive-Ins, and Drives. This engaging presentation will explore the heyday of drive-in movie theaters, summertime swimming pools, and beloved amusement parks that once dotted the Lincoln Highway and Western Pennsylvania.

Our featured speaker is Jennifer Sopko, a Pittsburgh native, writer, and historian with a passion for uncovering and reinterpreting local history. Since 2003, Jennifer has written extensively about the Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, and the greater Western Pennsylvania region. She is the author of Ligonier Valley Vignettes: Tales from the Laurel Highlands (2013) and Idlewild: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park (2018). Her upcoming book will delve into the stories of lost amusement parks across Western Pennsylvania.

In addition to her published work, Jennifer serves as editor of Westmoreland History magazine and volunteers with numerous regional historical organizations. She brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for preserving Western Pennsylvania’s cultural heritage.