Pennsylvania is a fascinating state, rich in unique history, art, architecture and culture. This collection of some of our favorite vintage photographs and illustrations of Pennsylvania will make you nostalgic for days long gone, but not forgotten. If you can’t remember any of these bygone eras, then we hope these images will show you a side of our state you’ve never seen before.
- “Women standing over a waterfall near Carmichaels, Cumberland Township, Greene County”
Flickr/Greene County, Pennsylvania, Archives Project Real photo postcard, date unknown.
- “Aerial View of East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh”
Flickr/Boston Public Library Approximately 1930 -1945.
- “Rural Pennsylvania”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster by Katherine Milhous, created between 1936 and 1940.
- “Bird’s Eye View, Willow Grove, Philadelphia”
Flickr/Dave View from The Mountain Scenic Railway, date unknown.
- “Scene on Chestnut St. Showing Old Post Office and Philadelphia Record, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania”
Flickr/Randy von Liski Circa 1904.
- “Stewarts’ Bowling Lanes”
Flickr/1950sUnlimited East Side, Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, date unknown.
- “Hersheypark USA: A Happy Experience!”
Flickr/Brian 1970s.
- “Sky-Scrapers of Philadelphia”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Poster by Webster & Hunter, 1898
- “Visit Pennsylvania, Where Pre-Revolutionary Costumes Still Survive”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster, created by Katherine Milhous between 1936 and 1940.
- “The Pennsylvania Turnpike: The World’s Greatest Highway”
Flickr/Jasperdo Circa 1951.
- “Dutch Diner, Located at Shartlesville, Pa. on Famous Rt. U. S. 22”
Flickr/Boston Public Library Approximately 1930 - 1945.
- “Simon Mellitto, age 10, newsboy, Philadelphia”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine, June 1910.
- “Visit Historic Ephrata, Pennsylvania”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster for the Ephrata Cloister, Lancaster County. Created by Katherine Milhous, between 1936 and 1941.
- “Wildwood Inn, Breezewood, Pennsylvania”
Flickr/Allen 1950s.
Caption reads: “See one of the largest antique plate and spoon collections in America.”
- “Pennsylvania Turnpike and Lincoln Highway through the Narrows, West of Everett, Pa.”
Flickr/Jasperdo Circa 1951.
- “The Pennsylvania Turnpike, Not for the Amish Buggy”
Flickr/Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison Lancaster County, 1960s.
- “Pennsylvania”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster for Lancaster County, showing an Amish family. Created by Katherine Milhous, between 1936 and 1941.
- “Graveyard and Steel Mill, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Photographed by Walker Evans for the Farm Security Administration, November 1935.
- “TraveLodge, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania”
Flickr/Jasperdo Postmarked: Sep 7, 1976.
This motel was converted into Paxton Hall, Gettysburg College student housing.
- “America Wonderland”
Flickr/Beverly Vealach Roadside attraction in Shartlesville, now called Roadside America.
- “Port of Philadelphia”
Flickr/trialsanderrors Poster showing railroad freight cars at the Port of Philadelphia, by Robert Muchley in 1936.
- “Boating on the River: Greetings from Davistown, Pennsylvania”
Flickr/Greene County, Pennsylvania, Archives Project Postcard from Davistown, Dunkard Township, Greene County, date unknown.
- “Grand View Ship Hotel, Located 17 Miles West of Bedford, Pennsylvania, on Highway 30”
Flickr/Allen 1960’s. Unfortunately, this historic hotel and roadside attraction burned down in 2001.
- “Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum, Route 30/Lincoln Highway, Orrtanna, Pennsylvania”
Flickr/Beverly Vealach Mister Ed’s: The Area’s Most Unusual General Store opened (about two miles from its current location) over 40 years ago.
What did you think of this glimpse into Pennsylvania’s past? Have you been to any of these places? Please share your comments and photos with us below!
Flickr/Greene County, Pennsylvania, Archives Project
Real photo postcard, date unknown.
Flickr/Boston Public Library
Approximately 1930 -1945.
Flickr/trialsanderrors
Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster by Katherine Milhous, created between 1936 and 1940.
Flickr/Dave
View from The Mountain Scenic Railway, date unknown.
Flickr/Randy von Liski
Circa 1904.
Flickr/1950sUnlimited
East Side, Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, date unknown.
Flickr/Brian
1970s.
Poster by Webster & Hunter, 1898
Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster, created by Katherine Milhous between 1936 and 1940.
Flickr/Jasperdo
Circa 1951.
Approximately 1930 - 1945.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine, June 1910.
Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster for the Ephrata Cloister, Lancaster County. Created by Katherine Milhous, between 1936 and 1941.
Flickr/Allen
1950s.
Caption reads: “See one of the largest antique plate and spoon collections in America.”
Flickr/Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison
Lancaster County, 1960s.
Works Progress Administration Pennsylvania Art Project poster for Lancaster County, showing an Amish family. Created by Katherine Milhous, between 1936 and 1941.
Photographed by Walker Evans for the Farm Security Administration, November 1935.
Postmarked: Sep 7, 1976.
This motel was converted into Paxton Hall, Gettysburg College student housing.
Flickr/Beverly Vealach
Roadside attraction in Shartlesville, now called Roadside America.
Poster showing railroad freight cars at the Port of Philadelphia, by Robert Muchley in 1936.
Postcard from Davistown, Dunkard Township, Greene County, date unknown.
1960’s. Unfortunately, this historic hotel and roadside attraction burned down in 2001.
Mister Ed’s: The Area’s Most Unusual General Store opened (about two miles from its current location) over 40 years ago.
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