Three Historic Spots in Lebanon Valley

We may be known for our Lebanon Bologna… but here in Lebanon County we have a history of producing much more than just smoked meats! Check out these three historic locations across our county and discover the other product that the Lebanon Valley was known for producing many years ago.

From 1742 to 1883, the Cornwall Iron Furnace was a top iron producer in Pennsylvania and a major arms supplier for the Revolutionary War (fun fact: George Washington once visited the furnace!). Today, much of the furnace still stands, marking it as America’s most complete charcoal-fueled ironmaking complex. Take a tour of this National Historic Landmark to see where men once labored twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to keep up with the period’s hefty demand for iron.

The Union Canal Tunnel is the oldest existing transportation tunnel in the United States. It took from May of 1825 to June of 1827 to build the Tunnel and it remained in use until the 1880’s. The Tunnel has since been designated as a National Historic Landmark, as well as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Today, the Union Canal Tunnel is surrounded by 110 acres of recreational area, but you can still experience a narrated boat ride through the canal as weather permits.

Historic Schaefferstown is dedicated to preserving the Pennsylvania German culture that once thrived in Central Pennsylvania. The Alexander Schaeffer House, one of the town’s museums and a National Historic Landmark, is a rare example of the mid-18th century practice of including domestic and manufacturing activities under one roof. Other museums dot the historic town, as well as sites like the Franklin Tavern, where you can enjoy modern pleasures (perhaps, a burger and fries) in a building that was established in 1746.