You are here
Visit Pennsylvania's Historic Places
More than 1,000 museums and hundreds of historical sites tell of the Commonwealth’s rich, storied, and important past. Gettysburg and Philadelphia are best known, but the entire state is rich with historic preservation—as well as the kind of living history you can only find in a place that treasures its streetscapes and architecture. Pennsylvania boasts 30 National Park Service parks, trails, and landmarks.
And when you’re finished touring, great antique shops and local merchants offer unique, historic, and local merchandise. There are more than 130 farmers and artisans markets in Pennsylvania.
So when you get off the highway in Pennsylvania, you can truly take a trip to Unique!
History & Heritage Blog
New History Center Museum Opens in York
York County has a fantastic new museum where visitors can explore 300 years of American history, dating from York’s Revolutionary roots and industrial achievements up to and including the history makers of today.
The York County History Center Museum opened in August 2024 in a 19th century former steam-generating plant that has been conve...
Read MoreA New Side to Old History at Gettysburg’s Beyond the Battle Museum
While the lore and literature surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg may seem exhaustive, there is still a “new” side of the battle to explore: the brand-new, state-of-the-art Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum delves into the stories of civilians—not soldie...
Read MoreRediscover Frank Lloyd Wright
Whether you’re a devotee of or merely acquainted with Frank Lloyd Wright—who some consider “the greatest American architect of all time”—you probably haven’t explored the full range of this avant-garde craftsman and innovator. Southern Pennsylvania is the region where his most well-known structures, as well his architectural philosophy, came int...
Read MoreBuilt Tough: The Celebration of Lumber in PA
At the time European colonization began in the New World, the region we call “Penn’s Woods” was covered in 90% forest. Pennsylvania’s tall, straight white pine and hemlock trees provided the globe with high-in-demand ship masts, turning the state into a hub of logging. Due to the deforestation of the state, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purch...
Read MoreHalloween & Fall Festivals in Lancaster County
It’s time for fall in Lancaster County, which means crops are harvested, colorful leaves adorn the trees, and fireplaces flicker to life. Home to sprawling countryside, farm-fresh agriculture, and home-cooked comfort foods, there's no better place to experience fall than in Lancast...
Read MoreMuseums to Visit in the Pocono Mountains
The charming small towns of the Pocono Mountains region in Northeastern Pennsylvania are filled with plenty of great things to see and do in the present, but the area also has a rich past to discover. Plan to explore these four fantastic...
Read MoreThree 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...
Read MoreHomestead with a Communal History at Eisenhower Farm
Whether you aim to retreat from the unknowns of the present into the fixities of the past, or whether you want to embrace our history for all the wisdom it has to offer for today, Eisenhower Farm is replete with all the trappings of History, both made and in the making. Purchased b...
Read MoreA Sugar High in Lehigh Valley: Celebrating 100 Years of PEEPS
Whether arriving in gourmet flavors or coated in neon-colored sugar, there’s something about the squishy sugariness of a marshmallow that brings out the child in all of us. In Bethlehem this year, there’s even more to be nostalgic about: Just Born Quality Confections—beloved creator of long...
Read MoreCharter Day's - Free Admission at Historical Sites
In 1681, England’s King Charles II used a charter to grant the land that is now Pennsylvania to founder William Penn. It is often referred to as the “Penn Charter” or “Pennsylvania’s birth certificate.”
On Charter Day, many of Pennsylvania’s Trails of History sites offer “free admission” in celebration of Pennsylvania’s birthday. Throug...
Read More