growth forest during the mid-to-late 19th century and very early 20th century. The lumber companies chopped down the hemlock and white pine forests that once covered much of Pennsylvania. According to Conrad Weiser, who wrote in 1737, All of the virgin forest was gone by 1921. It has since been replaced by a thriving second growth forest of beech, yellow poplar, a variety of birch, oak, hickory, cherry, chestnut and maples. On May 31, 1985 a 2.2-mile-wide F4 tornado tore through part of the forest, destroying an estimated 88,000 trees. Neighboring state forest districts Elk State Forest (north) Sproul State Forest (east) Rothrock State Forest (southeast) Gallitzin State Forest (south) Clear Creek State Forest (west) Nearby state parks Three Pennsylvania State Parks are located within Moshannon State Forest: Black Moshannon State Park (Centre County) Parker Dam State Park (Clearfield County) S. B. Elliott State Park (Clearfield County) References Note: As of July 2006, this web page has not been updated to reflect the Pennsylvania State Forest Districts realignment. Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment Pennsylvania state forests Protected areas established in 1898 Protected areas of Centre County, Pennsylvania Protected areas of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Protected areas of Elk County, Pennsylvania