You’ve been to all the most popular museums and tourist landmarks in Pennsylvania: Independence Hall, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, etc… What about some of the lesser-known historical sites? Lord knows Pennsylvania is not lacking in them. Here are 10 hidden gems in the state that offer fascinating glimpses into our history.
- Indian God Rock
Wikimedia Commons In Rockland Township lies an object that has been the subject of significant archaeological interest: one of the oldest known petroglyphs in the region. It is believed to date back to AD 900, and was first recorded by explorers in the year 1749. The carved symbols on the rock depict humans and animals and are believed to have been of religious significance to Native American shamans.
- Meadowcroft Rockshelter
Wikimedia Commons Another significant archeological site in Pennsylvania is the Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Jefferson Township. It holds the oldest evidence of human life in North America. Many fascinating and scientifically rich artifacts have been found here, including arrow heads and other tools.
- The Frick Mansion
Wikimedia Commons The Frick in Pittsburgh memorializes the life of 19th century industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick. Today, the estate includes an extensive art collection, a collection of antique automobiles, the historic Clayton mansion, and a greenhouse.
- The Moravian Book Shop
sarahtarno/ Flickr The Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem lays claim to the title of the oldest continuously operating book shop in the world. It has been open since 1745 and is a popular landmark in the Lehigh Valley.
- Strasburg Railroad
Strasburg Rail Road/ Facebook The Strasburg Railroad is America’s oldest short-line railroad. When you visit here, you can ride locomotives that are identical to the ones used in the late 19th century and into the 20th century. President Lincoln himself once rode these rails.
- The Barnes Foundation
Tom Ipri/ Flickr Once located in the original home of Albert C. Barnes in Merion, a few years ago the extensive art collection was relocated to a new building in Philadelphia. The foundation consists of a massive art collection including works by Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, and many more old masters. The foundation offers a unique and perfectly curated look into art history, from the perspective of Barnes himself.
- Mercer Museum
William Doyle/ Flickr Located in Doylestown, the Mercer Museum is another place where historical artifacts have been left in a perfectly curated museum for you to admire. The massive collection of Henry Mercer, a 19th century anthropologist includes thousands of pre-industrial artifacts which are displayed in his massive, concrete castle.
- Philadelphia’s Camac Street
Wikimedia Commons In the early 19th century, civil engineers experimented with a unique method of constructing streets, known as Nicolson Pavement. They would build the streets out of wooden beams; the method quickly fell out of favor due to its tendency to deteriorate and smell awful. Yet, one block of such pavement remains in Philadelphia, on Camac St. You can find this odd historical patch of road between Locust St. and Walnut St.
- Concrete City
andrew wertz/ Flickr You can find the small, abandoned village in Nanticoke. The uniquely constructed concrete buildings were built in 1911 to house coal workers and their families. The development was abandoned because the concrete buildings proved unlivable; humidity would condensate on the buildings’ walls and also there was no plumbing. Today the remaining structures provide an interesting look into the lives of past locals.
- The Philadelphia Lazaretto Quarantine Station
Jukie Bot/ Flickr Though you have probably heard of Ellis Island, you may not know about this Lazaretto Quarantine Station, which was once known as the Ellis Island of Philadelphia. Innumerable immigrants entered the country through its doors; it is America’s oldest quarantine facility. Today, it stands vacant.
What else would you add?
Wikimedia Commons
In Rockland Township lies an object that has been the subject of significant archaeological interest: one of the oldest known petroglyphs in the region. It is believed to date back to AD 900, and was first recorded by explorers in the year 1749. The carved symbols on the rock depict humans and animals and are believed to have been of religious significance to Native American shamans.
Another significant archeological site in Pennsylvania is the Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Jefferson Township. It holds the oldest evidence of human life in North America. Many fascinating and scientifically rich artifacts have been found here, including arrow heads and other tools.
The Frick in Pittsburgh memorializes the life of 19th century industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick. Today, the estate includes an extensive art collection, a collection of antique automobiles, the historic Clayton mansion, and a greenhouse.
sarahtarno/ Flickr
The Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem lays claim to the title of the oldest continuously operating book shop in the world. It has been open since 1745 and is a popular landmark in the Lehigh Valley.
Strasburg Rail Road/ Facebook
The Strasburg Railroad is America’s oldest short-line railroad. When you visit here, you can ride locomotives that are identical to the ones used in the late 19th century and into the 20th century. President Lincoln himself once rode these rails.
Tom Ipri/ Flickr
Once located in the original home of Albert C. Barnes in Merion, a few years ago the extensive art collection was relocated to a new building in Philadelphia. The foundation consists of a massive art collection including works by Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, and many more old masters. The foundation offers a unique and perfectly curated look into art history, from the perspective of Barnes himself.
William Doyle/ Flickr
Located in Doylestown, the Mercer Museum is another place where historical artifacts have been left in a perfectly curated museum for you to admire. The massive collection of Henry Mercer, a 19th century anthropologist includes thousands of pre-industrial artifacts which are displayed in his massive, concrete castle.
In the early 19th century, civil engineers experimented with a unique method of constructing streets, known as Nicolson Pavement. They would build the streets out of wooden beams; the method quickly fell out of favor due to its tendency to deteriorate and smell awful. Yet, one block of such pavement remains in Philadelphia, on Camac St. You can find this odd historical patch of road between Locust St. and Walnut St.
andrew wertz/ Flickr
You can find the small, abandoned village in Nanticoke. The uniquely constructed concrete buildings were built in 1911 to house coal workers and their families. The development was abandoned because the concrete buildings proved unlivable; humidity would condensate on the buildings’ walls and also there was no plumbing. Today the remaining structures provide an interesting look into the lives of past locals.
Jukie Bot/ Flickr
Though you have probably heard of Ellis Island, you may not know about this Lazaretto Quarantine Station, which was once known as the Ellis Island of Philadelphia. Innumerable immigrants entered the country through its doors; it is America’s oldest quarantine facility. Today, it stands vacant.
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