When William Penn's 1681 charter created his "Holy Experiment" - a society based on religious tolerance - European refugees flocked to Pennsylvania.

During the American Revolution, our reputation for freedom became politically based when the Second Continental Congress met and adopted the Articles of Confederation in the city of York. Thousands of enslaved Africans also escaped to freedom on the Underground Railroad at stations throughout the region.

Come explore the heritage sites that have endured as modern reminders of our commitment to an individual's right to be free.

Founded in 1732, the
Ephrata Cloister - one of America's earliest religious communities - is older than our nation. Known for its ornate Pennsylvania German Fraktur lettering, this site also was celebrated for its music and printed products. Tour guides in period dress interpret Ephrata community life.

A Moravian missionary group, which emigrated from what is now Europe's Czech Republic, established the Lititz Moravian Church - and the town of the same name - in 1756. Once a strict religious community, modern Lititz is a picture- postcard town. Church archives and a museum feature documents from the settlement's early history.

1719 Hans Herr House, in the town of Willow Street, is a traditional Pennsylvania German farmhouse and the oldest Mennonite meeting house in the Western Hemisphere, where early settlers worshipped.

Lancaster County     York County
Meals available*      Shopping
*Call in advance to set up eating arrangements for your group.

York's Colonial Complex includes a reconstruction of the Colonial Courthouse where the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, our nation's first constitution. The complex's adjacent Gates House is where a plot to replace George Washington as commander of the Continental Army was thwarted, in 1778.

Discover the magic and memories, history and traditions of Christmas at National Christmas Center , a family attraction and museum! Walk through 20,000 square feet of indoor, life-sized exhibits that celebrate Christmas throughout the year.

Landis Valley Museum & Village is a small country shtetel which interprets 19th-century rural life contemporaneous with the life many Eastern European Jews knew in the old country. While the culture we present is Pennsylvania German or Dutch, it is a visit to an earlier world that resonates with many pasts. Strictly Kosher packaged snacks are available in the museum store.

The newest theater in Lancaster, the Freedom Chapel Dinner Theatre , is located in Christiana and features professional actors portraying an Underground Railroad experience. The setting is an historic 1850s building where dinner is served at your table while you relax. You can also choose an Amish show with a family-style Amish meal.