Circa
1974
Things to do in Lancaster City
Lancaster City
Circa
1974
Rockford Mansion-881
Rockford Road, Lancaster. The home of Revolution War General Edward Hand, his
family as well as enslaved and freed servants.
General Edward Hand was adjutant General to
George Washington.
Tours of the house are Tuesday-Friday and
Sunday 10am, 12pm and 2 Saturday 10am and 12 pm.
They suggest you get tickets in
advance…historicrockford.orgThe
John J Snyder Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts
is housed in the reconstructed 18th
Century bank barn on the grounds of Rockford Mansion.
Tours hours are Tuesday through Friday and
Sunday 10 am through 4 pm and Saturday 10am through 2pm.
The suggestion is the you get tickets in
advance of your visit.
The website is historicrockford.org
Lancaster Cemetery-205
E Lemon, Lancaster, 20-acre Victorian Era cemetery. The cemetery was established
in 1840 by the First Reformed Church of Lancaster the 1st
burial took place June 1848.
The
cemetery encourages Visitors to come visit. Among those buried in the cemetery
are Jonathan Foltz-1810-1879, the first Presidential Physician and the White
House, he was physician to President James PolkandPresident James Buchannan;
William and Isaac Heister (father-1790-1853 and son-1824-1871) both were U.S.
Congressman; Anthony Roberts-1803-1885-U.S. Congressman and Anthony
Roberts-1803-1885-U.S. Congressman.
There are also 5 Civil War officers and an
Artist buried in the cemetery.
Woodward Cemetery-501
South Queen Street, Lancaster-The cemetery was established by the Trinity Church
of Lancaster in 1850,
Woodward Hill was the largest and most elaborate of the new rural cemeteries
established in Lancaster during the mid-nineteenth century. the cemetery
occupies 32 acres and contains approximately 13,750 grave markers ranging in
date from the late eighteenth century to the present day. They illustrate the
200-year evolution of funerary art, sculpture and associated symbolism. In
addition to tombstones, there are numerous
obelisks and mausoleums representing Victorian, neoclassical, and early modern
architectural styles. The
cemetery is the resting place of President James Buchannan-1791-1868); Frederick
Muhlenberg-1750-1801, (grandson of Conrad Weiser) he was a member of the
Continental Congress and the first Speaker of the House of Representatives.;
John Shulze -1775-1852-6th Governor
of Pennsylvania and his wife Susan Kimmel. John was also the nephew of Frederick
Muhlenberg. There other notable persons buried at Woodward Cemetery.
Wheatland-1120
Marietta Avenue, Lancaster-The
home of President James Buchanan.
Tours of the presidential mansion are available Monday – Saturday, on the hour,
from 10am – 3pm (last tour at 3pm). General admission tickets and more
information about the mansion may be found at www.lancasterhistory.org.
Lancaster County Historical Society-230
North President Avenue, Lancaster-
The Research Center is open Tuesdays - Saturdays with timeslot appointments from
9:30am - 1pm and 1 - 4:30pm.Visitors are strongly encouraged to reserve a
timeslot in advance by registering online or
by calling LancasterHistory at (717) 392-4633. Timeslots are limited, so walk-in
admission is not guaranteed. The website is:
Mennonite Life
(formerly Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society)-2215 Millstream Road,
Lancaster-
Begun in 1958, the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society operates a
museum–supported by library, archival, publications, and educational
programs–with a focus on interpretation of Mennonite and Amish life in
southeastern Pennsylvania since 1710. Its collections represent the historical
background, religious thought and expression, culture, and family history of
Mennonite related groups. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
Lancaster Central Market-23
North Market Street-across from the hotel-
Designated as a market town in 1730, the City of Lancaster is home to Lancaster
Central Market, the oldest, continuously running public farmers’ market in the
country. More than 60 local vendors call the beautiful 1889 Market House home
three days each week, when it opens its doors to welcome the surrounding
community. A step inside is sure to highlight all that Lancaster County has to
offer. A walk through its aisles will find an abundance of produce from the
deeply nutrient-rich soils
native
to the local landscape, an array of prepared foods representing the proud
cultural diversity of the county, and locally sourced meat, poultry, cheeses and
more. The hours are Tuesday- 6 am
to 3 pm, Friday 6 am to 3pm, Saturday 6 am to 3 pm.
The Fulton Theater-12
North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA-
Fulton Hall is named after Robert
Fulton (1765-1815),
Lancaster County's steam engine pioneer, and it is his likeness that is
portrayed in the statue on the front facade. This statue is a replica of the
original wooden statue, which has since been restored and now resides on display
inside the interior lobby. The building itself was built on the foundation of
Lancaster's pre-Revolutionary jail. In 1763, a vigilante gang known as the Paxton
Boys massacred the Conestoga
Indians being held
there for their protection. This was a monumental event throughout the colonies
and became the subject matter for the first plays ever written on American soil
- "A Dialogue Between Andrew Trueman and Thomas Zealot About the Killing the
Indians at Cannestogoe and Lancaster" and "The Paxton Boys, a Farce".[citation
needed] The
exterior wall of the jail courtyard is now the back wall of the theatre.
Christopher Hager, a Lancaster merchant and civic leader, commissioned the
renowned Philadelphia architect Samuel
Sloan (who later
designed the Lancaster County Courthouse) to create a building that would serve
as a community center for meetings, lectures, concerts, and theatrical
performances. The building was erected in 1852. This is a working theater today
where you can see a shows.
Tickets can be purchased online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or through the box
office Monday through Friday 10 AM – 5 PM, and 2 hours before all performances
on weekends. The website is: thefulton.org
Red Rose Walking Food Tour in Lancaster-
Downtowns' visitors center is located on the corner of King St. & Queen
St—across from the hotel. .Enjoy
a delectable introduction to Lancaster, Pennsylvania—and learn about its unique
culture and history—on this private walking tour. Meet your guide at the
Lancaster City Visitor Center, and set off to discover local historical
highlights on foot. Be sure to come hungry: you'll also visit a number of
independent restaurants and food businesses, and will enjoy enough generous
samples to add up to a hearty lunch.
510 Centerville Rd, Lancaster, PA The Prather Family, owners of The Dutch Apple
have a passion for service and for dining and for Broad-way style shows. Tickets
can be bought on line at
https://dutchapple.com
Barnstomers Baseball Team-650
Prince Street, Lancaster, PA-Check their schedule and buy tickets at
www.lancasterbarnstormers.com
Things to do in Lancaster
County
Hans Herr House (1719) and Museum-1849
Hans Herr Drive, Willow Street, PA.
This is the oldest building in Lancaster County, Colonial period dwelling of the
area's first Mennonite settlers, built in medieval Germanic style. Oldest
Mennonite meeting house in America.
At the Museum you will experience a full-size reproduction of a Native
longhouse, you will also see buildings and exhibits tracing the formation of
Lancaster County.
There are also 3 historic farmhouses, barns, a blacksmith shop, a
smokehouse ad an outdoor back oven, among other things. You can buy tickets at
https://mennonitelife.org
York Colonial Complex-205 W Market St, York-While Philadelphia’s
Old City,
and specifically Independence
Hall,
are often considered the spot where the United States was begun, did you know
that York, Pennsylvania can also make the same claim? In September 1777, the
Second Continental Congress was forced to flee Philadelphia because of the loss
at the Battle
of Brandywine.
After a single-day stop in Lancaster, Congress opted for the safety of the far
bank of the Susquehanna River and settled in York, Pennsylvania.
From September 30, 1777 until June 27, 1778, the Second Continental Congress met
in York’s courthouse. While there, they drafted and ratified the Articles of
Confederation (giving rise to the idea that York was the nation’s first
capital), declared
the first Thanksgiving,
and first used the term “United States of America.”
The tour includes the Golden Plough Tavern built in 1741, General Horatio
Gates House built in 1751 and the recreated court house.
Hours of Operation are Tues-Sat 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their website is:
www.yorkhistorycenter.org
While in York visit the Historical Society Museum
and Library at 250 East Market St; the Agricultural and Industry Museum at 217W
Princess St; the Fire Museum at 757 W Market St; and the Bonham House at 152 E
Market St.
American Military Edged Weaponry Museum-3562 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse-This
is the personal collection of Larry Thomas, who has been collecting military
knives since he was 13 years old. In the mid-1980s he and his wife opened the
museum in the old National Bank of Intercourse which was constructed in 1909,
the bank vault serves as the museum office. The hours of operation are
Mon-Sat-10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Amish Village-199 Hartman Bridge Road (Rt896) Ronks-An
Authentic homestead set on 12 acres. guided tour of their Amish farmhouse, learn
the unique customs and traditions of Lancaster County’s Plan Community.
You will see the Blacksmith shop, one room
Amish schoolhouse and market filled with Amish foods and handcrafts. Take a
picture in an Amish buggy, and visit the friendly farm animals. The hours of
operation July 1st-Sept
3rd
are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For information and tickets visit the website-
www.amishvillage.com
AAA Buggy
Rides-3461 Old Philadelphia Pike, Ronks-They
offer three different tours, the County Buggy
ride which is a35 minute ride through the county past farms, farmlands, and one
room school house. Covered Bridge
Ride-55 minutes- includes the country side and an 1880’s covered bridge.
Amish Farm ride and
tour-65 minutes, tour the country side and tour a working Amish dairy farm.
Their drivers are Amish, love to educate the
public about the Amish life, the difference between Amish and Mennonite
cultures.
The hours of operation are
Mon-Sat-9 a.m.-5 p.m. Their website is:
https://aaabuggyrides.com
Sight and Sound Theater-300Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks-For
more than 40 years Sight and Sound Theaters has been bringing Bible stories to
life on stage in a spectacular show and with a meaningful message.
For hours, shows and tickets their website is:
https://www.sight-sound.com
Barry’s Car Barn-3504 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse-Antique
car museum focusing on American muscle cars from the 50’s thru the 70’s and
there is much more.
Hours of operation are Tues-Thur-9 a.m. -4 p.m.
and Fri thru Sat 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Their website is:
Barry's Car Barn (barryscarbarn.com)
The National Toy Train Museum in Strasburg, PA-300 Paradise Lane, Ronks-
is
a world-class toy train destination for kids of all ages. Whether you’re new to
the lively hobby of collecting, building, and operating toy trains or you’ve
been a toy train enthusiast for decades, you will delight in their dynamic
displays, including seven operating, interactive
train layouts in
G, Standard, O, S, and HO Gauges, Replica Lionel D-265 O Gauge, and LEGO®.
Their hours of operation are Mon-Sun 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania-300 Gap Road, Strasburg-The
Museum houses one of the most significant collections of historic artifacts in
the world. Devote to preserving and interpreting the broad impact of railroad
development on society.
The hours of operation are Wed-Sat- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun-12 p.m. to 4 p.m.:
Their website is:
https://rrmuseumpa.org
Strasburg Railroad Mechanical Shop-301 Gap Road, Ronks-please note no open toed
shoes
Go behind the scenes with a guided tour of the railroad’s mechanical shop, where
steam trains are built and refurbished. Learn how our mechanical department has
been producing everything from fabricated parts to complete historic restoration
for over 50 years.
Tour hours are Sat and Sun-advanced reservations required. Their website is:
www.strasburgrailroad.com/tours
Strasburg Railroad-300 Gap Road, Strasburg-an
authentic steam train ride through Lancaster County’s famous Amish Country. Sit
back and relax as you travel through 2,500 acres of the picturesque countryside.
The experience transports you back to the late 1800 and early 1900s. Hours of
operation-depends on what day and time you visit.
Their website for tickets is: www.strasburgrailroad.com
Bird in Hand Stage -2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird- in- Hand-Live
Broadway style musicals and comedy shows, wholesome uplifting entertainment,
intimate theater setting, matinees and evening shows. Lunch/Dinner packages
available. Show information and tickets can be purchased on site or at
Bird-in-Hand.com
Ephrata Cloister-632 West Main Street Ephrata-Visitors
to Ephrata in the 1700s found a unique monastic settlement they labeled a
Cloister. Conrad Beissel, Ephrata’s founder, came to the site in 1732
seeking to live as a hermit following his own religious ideas. He believed
earthly life should be spent preparing to achieve a spiritual union with God at
the Second Coming he felt would soon occur.
By the early 1750s, nearly 80 celibate Brothers and
Sisters were housed in impressive Germanic log, stone, and half-timbered
buildings. At the same time, nearly 200 family members known as
Householders, occupied nearby homes and farms. Celibate members followed a life
of work balanced with hours of private prayer. Wearing white robes,
they adopted sparse diets, and slept little, all in an effort to provide
discipline as they prepared for an anticipated heavenly existence. Labors
included farming, papermaking, carpentry, milling, and textile production.
During the American Revolution, Ephrata
served as a hospital for nearly 260 American soldiers, some of whom rest in the
Mount Zion cemetery overlooking the historic grounds. Hours of operation Wed-12
p.m. to 4 p.m. Guided tours Thursday to Sat 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Web address;
Ephrata1732@gmail.com
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum-2451 Kissel Hill Rd, Lancaster-
Landis Valley’s mission is threefold: to collect, preserve, and interpret
Pennsylvania German material culture from 1740 through 1940. Get an up-close
look at the largest collection of Pennsylvania German artifacts in the United
States. Hours of operation:
Wed to Sat- 9 a.mm to 4 p.m. Sun-12p.m. to 4 p.m.
Their website:
https://www.landisvalleymuseum.org
