The areas are a remnant of the original forest that once covered 6 million acres on the Allegheny Plateau of New York and Pennsylvania. The old growth forest consists of 300- to 400-year-old American beech, Eastern hemlock and some sugar maple. Other tree species are yellow birch, sweet birch, black cherry, red maple, American basswood, tulip poplar, and cucumber magnolia. It is the type of forest that greeted early settlers and later supported a vast lumber industry. The tract of old growth was purchased by the federal government in 1936. The Scenic Area was dedicated for aesthetic purposes and the remaining area was set aside as a Research Natural Area for scientific studies. In 1973, both areas were added to the National Registry of National Natural Landmarks Program in recognition of their unique status. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tionesta_Scenic_and_Research_Natural_Areas