Last updated: January 10, 2026
Person
Lajos Kossuth
Public Domain
Quick Facts
Place of Birth:
Monok, Hungary
Date of Birth:
September 19, 1802
Place of Death:
Turin, Italy
Date of Death:
March 20, 1894
Lajos Kossuth, Hungarian patriot, stayed at the Summit Hotel, along the Allegheny Portage Railroad.
Kossuth was in America raising money for Hungarian independence. He led the struggle for their independence from Austria.
“I recall hearing the old timers speak of the visit of Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, to Hollidaysburg. He arrived on Saturday, January 17, 1852, and was given an enthusiastic welcome and reception by a committee of Hollidaysburg citizens at the Mountain House, which stood near the “Y” switches. He was presented with a purse containing over $200 in gold to aid his cause in Hungary, and George R. McFarlane, a prominent iron-founder, offered to make for him fifty tons of cannon balls and deliver them when called upon... It was the distinguished visitor’s purpose to resume his journey toward Pittsburgh on Monday morning, but it snowed so much on Saturday night and Sunday as to render the passage of the Portage Railroad unadvisable and he remained over at the Mountain House until Tuesday morning, when the party left in sleighs.” -Harry A. Jacobs, The Juniata Canal and Old Portage Railroad.