Introduction
Rising above the valley that surrounds State College, Mount Nittany is one of the most recognizable landmarks in central Pennsylvania. For generations, its ridge line has framed the skyline of Happy Valley and served as a place of recreation, reflection, and tradition for locals and Penn Staters alike. From scenic overlooks to steep forested trails, thousands of people hike the mountain every year.
But the mountain we see today—green, protected, and accessible—almost looked very different. In the mid-20th century, Mount Nittany nearly lost its forests when landowners considered selling the mountain and its timber rights. The story of how it was saved is one of the most powerful examples of tree preservation in central Pennsylvania—and a reminder that protecting the places we love takes action.
The Origin of the Name “Nittany”
The word “Nittany” has deep historical roots that predate both the town of State College and Pennsylvania State University. Historians generally trace the name to Native American languages used by tribes that inhabited central Pennsylvania long before European settlement.
Most scholars believe the word derives from an Algonquian term—often written as “Nit-A-Nee”—which roughly translates to “single mountain.” The name likely referred to the prominent ridge rising above the valley landscape.
Other legends and folklore surrounding the name developed over time. One popular story tells of a Native American woman named Nita-nee connected to the formation of the mountain. However, many of these stories are attributed to Henry W. Shoemaker, a journalist and folklore collector who was known more as a creator of Indian folktales than as a faithful recorder of indigenous oral tradition.
Regardless of its exact linguistic origin, the name “Nittany” was already well established by the 18th century and eventually became inseparable from the region itself. Today, it appears everywhere in the valley—from the Nittany Lion mascot to schools, businesses, and local institutions.
A Landscape Under Threat
While Mount Nittany is now known as a beloved hiking destination, the mountain faced a serious threat in the mid-1940s.
In 1945, the landowners of Mount Nittany were preparing to sell the mountain, including its timber rights. At the time, logging was a common practice throughout Pennsylvania’s forests, and throughout the 1800s many natural landscapes, including Mount Nittany, were stripped for lumber and industrial expansion.
For many in the community—especially Penn State students and alumni—the prospect of the mountain’s forests being dismantled again was unthinkable. The mountain had already become a defining feature of the region and a symbol of the university at its base.
But without action, the forests that hikers now walk through could have disappeared entirely.
The Campaign That Saved the Mountain
The turning point in Mount Nittany’s history came when members of the Lion’s Paw Alumni Association, a Penn State senior society, learned of the potential sale.
Determined to protect the mountain, the group launched a fundraising campaign among its members and supporters. Their goal was ambitious: raise enough money to purchase land on Mount Nittany before the sale could go through.
In an extraordinary grassroots effort, they succeeded.
By May 1946, the group had raised the funds needed to purchase approximately 525 acres of the mountain, saving it from lumbering and other development. It was an early and remarkable act of tree preservation driven not by government mandate, but by people who refused to watch a landscape they loved be destroyed.
The purchase ensured that a large portion of Mount Nittany would remain forested and accessible to the public. However, the work of protecting the mountain was far from over.
The Creation of the Mount Nittany Conservancy
As the region around State College grew, Mount Nittany continued to face pressure from development. Residential expansion and commercial growth in the valley made the surrounding land increasingly valuable.
To address these concerns, the Lion’s Paw Alumni Association helped establish the Mount Nittany Conservancy in 1981. The organization’s mission was simple but vital: protect the mountain from commercial and residential development for future generations.
Through land purchases, conservation easements, and partnerships with the community, the Conservancy has acquired over 300 additional acres on and around Mount Nittany, expanding the protected area and preventing development from encroaching on the mountain’s natural character.
Today, the Conservancy and its volunteers maintain over eight miles of trails, signage, and overlooks—including the popular Mike Lynch Overlook—while continuing efforts to preserve the mountain’s forests and wildlife habitat.
Mount Nittany’s Place in Local Culture
Mount Nittany’s significance extends far beyond its environmental importance.
For locals, the mountain is a constant presence—visible from roads, neighborhoods, and farmland throughout the valley. It has become part of the region’s identity and a shared point of pride.
For Penn Staters, it holds an equally powerful meaning. The mountain gave its name to the university’s iconic mascot, the Nittany Lion, which dates back to 1907 when Penn State senior H. D. “Joe” Mason coined the phrase during a baseball trip to Princeton. The mascot is now synonymous with Penn State tradition.
Students hike the mountain during their years in State College. Alumni returning to the valley often say that seeing the ridgeline again is one of the first signs that they are truly “home.”
In this way, Mount Nittany serves as a bridge between community and university—between those who live in the valley and those whose time there shaped their lives.
Why Tree Preservation Matters
The story of Mount Nittany is not just about a mountain. It is about what happens when a community decides that its trees and natural spaces are worth protecting.
Without the efforts of volunteers, alumni, and conservation groups, Mount Nittany could easily have become another logged ridge or developed hillside. Instead, it remains a protected natural space that thousands of people enjoy every year.
Its forests continue to grow. Its trails continue to welcome hikers. And its ridgeline still watches over Happy Valley.
Tree preservation is often about decisions made in critical moments—people choosing to act before something valuable disappears. That’s true whether you’re protecting 525 acres on a mountainside or caring for a single mature tree in your own yard.
Protecting the Trees in Your Own Landscape
You don’t have to organize a valley-wide fundraising campaign to make a difference. Tree preservation starts at home—with the trees on your property that provide shade, clean air, and beauty to your landscape every day.
Mature trees face many of the same pressures in residential and commercial settings that they do in the wild: disease, insect infestations, construction damage, soil compaction, and improper pruning. The difference is that in a managed landscape, the right professional care can prevent those problems before they start.
At Cutting Edge Tree Professionals, tree preservation is at the heart of what we do. Our certified arborists serve Centre County, the Susquehanna Valley, and the greater Harrisburg area with services designed to keep your trees healthy for the long term—including tree health care, fertilization, pest control, and risk assessment. Whether you’re protecting a century-old oak or planning around new construction, we can help you preserve the trees that matter most.
Because the same principle that saved Mount Nittany applies to every property in central Pennsylvania: the best time to protect a tree is before it’s too late.
Contact Cutting Edge Tree Professionals to learn how we can help with your tree preservation needs.
Source List:
- Mount Nittany Conservancy – History and conservation efforts. nittany.org
- Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture – “Mount Nittany.” centrehistory.org
- Shakely, Tom. Conserving Mount Nittany: A Dynamic Environmentalism. Nittany Valley Press, 2013.
- Penn State University – “The Origin of the Nittany Lion.” psu.edu
- Wikipedia – “Mount Nittany.” en.wikipedia.org