Time Traveling Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, Gettysburg The United States of America was essentially birthed in Pennsylvania, with the Declaration of Independence being penned in Philadelphia in 1776. Myriad tales of history and heritage that continued to unfold across the Commonwealth can still be experienced through living museums, battlefield tours, and immersive encounters with period-garbed interpreters of PA’s longstanding cultural legacy. PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH & MORAVIAN HISTORY Among Germans who flocked to Pennsylvania for religious freedom in the 1700s were the Amish, a culture still distinguished for adhering to traditional ways, from wearing simple clothing to getting around with horses and buggies. Get acquainted with their fascinating heritage during The Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm in Bird-in-Hand, offering diverse guided and interactive farmland tours — including a visit at milking time — and an authentic PA Dutch meal. In Lancaster, wander the idyllic 100-acre Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum for a yesteryear escape brimming with restored buildings, a barn with farm animals, demonstrations, and a shop packed with artisan wares. Founded by a distinctive religious sect in colonial times, Historic Moravian Bethlehem is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, distinguished museums and handsomely restored buildings abound, costumed guides lead tours, and the oldest bookstore in America curates a great reading selection, in addition to stocking irresistible gifts. The Colonial Industrial Quarter encompasses a flour mill, tannery, smithy, and other vintage features. and-stripes bedecked flag, then meet costumed historical interpreters working in her upholstery shop. AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Immersion in the Civil War’s pivotal 1863 battle starts at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center , where numerous attractions range from virtual reality experiences to a stunning hand-painted, 360-degree cyclorama that brings Pickett’s Charge to vivid life with sound and lighting effects. Follow with a narrated battlefield bus tour or have a Licensed Battlefield Guide drive your car for a personalized tour. The stately David Wills House museum, where the young attorney had invited Abraham Lincoln to stay before dedicating the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in 1863, includes the bedroom where the President finished writing his iconic Gettysburg Address. FOUNDING FATHERS As an authentic living history site, the Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead in Newtown Square introduces visitors to 18th-century farm life and skills with interactive exhibits, plus diverse hands-on workshops that include blacksmithing and hearth cooking. In Philadelphia, tour the modest Betsy Ross House , where the professional seamstress stitched the first version of America’s stars-24 visitpa.com GETTYSBURG FOUNDATION
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2025: Page 24
