As one of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania is rich in American history. From the Constitution to the Declaration of Independence to the Battle of Gettysburg site, the Keystone State has some of the most treasured pieces of history lying within its borders. It is not only full of museums that highlight its history, but it houses many historical villages that have been preserved or recreated for us to experience what life was like over a century ago. Here are 15 historic villages in Pennsylvania that will transport you back in time:
- Old Bedford Village, Bedford
Old Bedford Village/Facebook Step back in time to the 18th century as you cross the Claycomb-covered bridge into Old Bedford Village. Visitors of all ages will enjoy re-enactments, colonial crafts, exhibits, and special events. This seasonal village is open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Old Economy Village, Ambridge
Old Economy Village/Facebook (Editor’s Note: Old Economy Village is closed until further notice. Visit the website or Facebook page for updates on re-opening.) On the banks of the Ohio River lies Old Economy Village a historic settlement in Ambridge. The village tells the story of the Harmony Society, one of the oldest and most successful religious communal groups of the 19th century. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Historic Sugartown, Malvern
Historic Sugartown/Facebook The 19th Century village of Sugartown is located on Sugartown Road in Malvern. Walk the streets to engage with the past through authentic 19th-century experiences. Tour homes, a barn and shop in the museum to take a piece of history home with you. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Old Mill Village, New Milford
Old Mill Village Museum/Facebook Founded over 50 years ago to preserve the rich heritage of the area, Old Mill Village has become a center of education and history. Crafts and artifacts of the late 18th through the early 20th centuries are displayed, giving a glipse as to what life was like here. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Historic Fallsington, Fallsington
Historic Fallsington Inc/Facebook The village of Fallsington is protected by Historic Fallsington Inc. to preserve its heritage. It lies in southeastern PA at the falls of the Delaware River. Visitors love stepping back into the 18th-century Quaker times and experiencing living, worship, and commerce as the Quakers once did. This village is open mid-May through mid-October. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Eckley Miners’ Village, Weatherly
Eckley Miners’ Village/Facebook (Editor’s Note: Eckley Miners’ Village Museum is closed until further notice. Visit the website or Facebook page for updates on re-opening.) Located in eastern Pennsylvania, Eckley Miners’ Village educates visitors about the story of anthracite coal mining along with patch towns and their residents, through the preservation and exploration of the site and its collection. Come for a visit and experience life at coal patch towns during the time when coal was an essential industrial fuel. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Landis Valley Village, Lancaster
Landis Valley Museum/Facebook (Editor’s Note: Landis Valley Museum is closed until further notice. Visit the website or Facebook page for updates on re-opening.) Open year-round, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum is a living history village of Pennsylvania Dutch life. Once an actual rural crossroads village, Landis Valley has more than 40 historic structures located on 100 scenic acres. Guides and skilled artisans at the village dress in costume for a full Dutch experience. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- The Village at Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing
Washington Crossing Park/facebook The Taylorsville area of Washington Crossing Historic Park houses the park’s village where you can tour many historic structures. This is where George Washington and 2,400 troops crossed the icy Delaware River in December of 1776. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Historic Yellow Springs, Chester Springs
Historic Yellow Springs/Facebook This 18th and 19th-century village includes preserved ruins of the first military hospital built in America. Built in 1777, the hospital was a chief medical facility for the Valley Forge encampment. The historic village now celebrates the astounding history and culture of a thriving colonial community and spa town, fashionable even before General George Washington commissioned the hospital. This village also has an arts center that hosts classes. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Elfreth’s Alley, Philadelphia
Elfreth’s Alley Museum/Facebook This historic village (technically a street) preserves over 300 years of colonial Philadelphia. Two adjacent houses, built in 1755, are now a museum and are open seasonally to the public. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, Newton Square
Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation//Facebook Since 1974, the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation has given visitors a glimpse of 18th century Pennsylvania farm life through group programming, weekend activities, and outreach opportunities. The Plantation is open to the general public on Saturdays from April through November. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Historic Rittenhouse Town, Philadelphia
Historic Rittenhouse Town/Facebook Historic Rittenhouse Town is a preserved village in beautiful Fairmount Park and the birthplace of the first paper in North America. The mill site and adjacent 1707 Rittenhouse Homestead and Bake House serve as reminders of the importance of the paper-making industry to the development of early America. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Peddler’s Village, New Hope
Management/TripAdvisor For over 50 years, visitors have loved walking the winding brick pathways to experience shopping, dining, and relaxing in this colonial-style village. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, Avella
Senator John Heinz History Center/Facebook As the oldest site of human habitation in North America, Meadowcroft Rockshelter provides a unique glimpse into the lives of prehistoric hunters and gatherers. Visitors of Meadowcroft can also step back in time to experience rural life over 150 years ago. Meadowcroft Village carefully recreates all of the charming qualities of an Upper Ohio Valley village from mid-19th century. A 16th century Indian Village allows visitors to travel 400 years into the past and re-live what life was like for the Eastern Woodland Indians. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
- Saint Peters Village Historic District
Willjay/Wikipedia If you enjoy strolling around historic towns in Pennsylvania, Saint Peters Village provides a glimpse of what life was like more than 100 years ago. Located in the Hopewell Big Woods, this village is arranged along a 1/4-mile stretch of Saint Peters Road and small enough to stroll through in just a few minutes. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Have you visited any of these historic villages in Pennsylvania? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Old Bedford Village/Facebook
Step back in time to the 18th century as you cross the Claycomb-covered bridge into Old Bedford Village. Visitors of all ages will enjoy re-enactments, colonial crafts, exhibits, and special events. This seasonal village is open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Old Economy Village/Facebook
(Editor’s Note: Old Economy Village is closed until further notice. Visit the website or Facebook page for updates on re-opening.) On the banks of the Ohio River lies Old Economy Village a historic settlement in Ambridge. The village tells the story of the Harmony Society, one of the oldest and most successful religious communal groups of the 19th century. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Historic Sugartown/Facebook
The 19th Century village of Sugartown is located on Sugartown Road in Malvern. Walk the streets to engage with the past through authentic 19th-century experiences. Tour homes, a barn and shop in the museum to take a piece of history home with you. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Old Mill Village Museum/Facebook
Founded over 50 years ago to preserve the rich heritage of the area, Old Mill Village has become a center of education and history. Crafts and artifacts of the late 18th through the early 20th centuries are displayed, giving a glipse as to what life was like here. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Historic Fallsington Inc/Facebook
The village of Fallsington is protected by Historic Fallsington Inc. to preserve its heritage. It lies in southeastern PA at the falls of the Delaware River. Visitors love stepping back into the 18th-century Quaker times and experiencing living, worship, and commerce as the Quakers once did. This village is open mid-May through mid-October. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Eckley Miners’ Village/Facebook
(Editor’s Note: Eckley Miners’ Village Museum is closed until further notice. Visit the website or Facebook page for updates on re-opening.) Located in eastern Pennsylvania, Eckley Miners’ Village educates visitors about the story of anthracite coal mining along with patch towns and their residents, through the preservation and exploration of the site and its collection. Come for a visit and experience life at coal patch towns during the time when coal was an essential industrial fuel. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Landis Valley Museum/Facebook
(Editor’s Note: Landis Valley Museum is closed until further notice. Visit the website or Facebook page for updates on re-opening.) Open year-round, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum is a living history village of Pennsylvania Dutch life. Once an actual rural crossroads village, Landis Valley has more than 40 historic structures located on 100 scenic acres. Guides and skilled artisans at the village dress in costume for a full Dutch experience. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Washington Crossing Park/facebook
The Taylorsville area of Washington Crossing Historic Park houses the park’s village where you can tour many historic structures. This is where George Washington and 2,400 troops crossed the icy Delaware River in December of 1776. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Historic Yellow Springs/Facebook
This 18th and 19th-century village includes preserved ruins of the first military hospital built in America. Built in 1777, the hospital was a chief medical facility for the Valley Forge encampment. The historic village now celebrates the astounding history and culture of a thriving colonial community and spa town, fashionable even before General George Washington commissioned the hospital. This village also has an arts center that hosts classes. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Elfreth’s Alley Museum/Facebook
This historic village (technically a street) preserves over 300 years of colonial Philadelphia. Two adjacent houses, built in 1755, are now a museum and are open seasonally to the public. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation//Facebook
Since 1974, the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation has given visitors a glimpse of 18th century Pennsylvania farm life through group programming, weekend activities, and outreach opportunities. The Plantation is open to the general public on Saturdays from April through November. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Historic Rittenhouse Town/Facebook
Historic Rittenhouse Town is a preserved village in beautiful Fairmount Park and the birthplace of the first paper in North America. The mill site and adjacent 1707 Rittenhouse Homestead and Bake House serve as reminders of the importance of the paper-making industry to the development of early America. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Management/TripAdvisor
For over 50 years, visitors have loved walking the winding brick pathways to experience shopping, dining, and relaxing in this colonial-style village. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Senator John Heinz History Center/Facebook
As the oldest site of human habitation in North America, Meadowcroft Rockshelter provides a unique glimpse into the lives of prehistoric hunters and gatherers. Visitors of Meadowcroft can also step back in time to experience rural life over 150 years ago. Meadowcroft Village carefully recreates all of the charming qualities of an Upper Ohio Valley village from mid-19th century. A 16th century Indian Village allows visitors to travel 400 years into the past and re-live what life was like for the Eastern Woodland Indians. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
Willjay/Wikipedia
If you enjoy strolling around historic towns in Pennsylvania, Saint Peters Village provides a glimpse of what life was like more than 100 years ago. Located in the Hopewell Big Woods, this village is arranged along a 1/4-mile stretch of Saint Peters Road and small enough to stroll through in just a few minutes. Click here for more information on this historic Pennsylvania village.
And for more interesting facts about Pennsylvania’s history, be sure to check out these 12 significant events.
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Address: 220 Sawblade Rd, Bedford, PA 15522, USAAddress: 270 16th St, Ambridge, PA 15003, USAAddress: 273 Boot Rd, Malvern, PA 19355, USAAddress: PA-848, New Milford, PA, USAAddress: 4 Yardley Ave, Levittown, PA 19054, USAAddress: 2 Eckley Back Rd, Weatherly, PA 18255, USAAddress: 2451 Kissel Hill Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601, USAAddress: 1112 River Rd, Washington Crossing, PA 18977, USAAddress: 1685 Art School Rd, Chester Springs, PA 19425, USAAddress: 124-126 Elfreth’s Alley, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USAAddress: 3900 N Sandy Flash Dr, Newtown Square, PA 19073, USAAddress: 208 Lincoln Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USAAddress: 100 Peddlers Village, New Hope, PA 18938, USAAddress: 401 Meadowcroft Rd, Avella, PA 15312, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Historic Villages In Pennsylvania March 16, 2021 Melissa Mahoney What historic landmarks in Pennsylvania can I visit? In addition to the above list of historic villages in Pennsylvania, as one of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania has 169 National Historic Landmarks. Valley Forge is one of the best-known landmarks as it was an area used as a military camp during the Revolutionary War. Another landmark of note is the Eastern State Penitentiary where you can take a day or night tour of this historic prison and see Al Capone’s old cell. Are there any museums where I can learn about Pennsylvania history? While many of the historic sites around the state have museums, there are quite a few museums where you can learn more about the history of the commonwealth. To learn about the state’s military history, visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg which has over 10,000 artifacts including tanks. You can also learn military history at the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum which is actually located inside the same building as a Trader Joe’s in Media, so you can shop for groceries and learn something all in one trip. What are the most historic towns in Pennsylvania? As the host to the most famous battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg is one historic town in Pennsylvania that everyone should visit. Head to the Gettysburg National Military Park to learn about the war and the role this town played in it. The town of Lititz was founded in 1756 by Moravians who were seeking religious freedom. If you visit, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time with the numerous preserved historic homes and buildings. And while you’re there, you may as well stop by Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, which was founded in 1861 and is the oldest pretzel bakery in the country.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Historic Villages In Pennsylvania
March 16, 2021
Melissa Mahoney
What historic landmarks in Pennsylvania can I visit? In addition to the above list of historic villages in Pennsylvania, as one of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania has 169 National Historic Landmarks. Valley Forge is one of the best-known landmarks as it was an area used as a military camp during the Revolutionary War. Another landmark of note is the Eastern State Penitentiary where you can take a day or night tour of this historic prison and see Al Capone’s old cell. Are there any museums where I can learn about Pennsylvania history? While many of the historic sites around the state have museums, there are quite a few museums where you can learn more about the history of the commonwealth. To learn about the state’s military history, visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg which has over 10,000 artifacts including tanks. You can also learn military history at the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum which is actually located inside the same building as a Trader Joe’s in Media, so you can shop for groceries and learn something all in one trip. What are the most historic towns in Pennsylvania? As the host to the most famous battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg is one historic town in Pennsylvania that everyone should visit. Head to the Gettysburg National Military Park to learn about the war and the role this town played in it. The town of Lititz was founded in 1756 by Moravians who were seeking religious freedom. If you visit, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time with the numerous preserved historic homes and buildings. And while you’re there, you may as well stop by Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, which was founded in 1861 and is the oldest pretzel bakery in the country.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
In addition to the above list of historic villages in Pennsylvania, as one of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania has 169 National Historic Landmarks. Valley Forge is one of the best-known landmarks as it was an area used as a military camp during the Revolutionary War. Another landmark of note is the Eastern State Penitentiary where you can take a day or night tour of this historic prison and see Al Capone’s old cell.
Are there any museums where I can learn about Pennsylvania history?
While many of the historic sites around the state have museums, there are quite a few museums where you can learn more about the history of the commonwealth. To learn about the state’s military history, visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg which has over 10,000 artifacts including tanks. You can also learn military history at the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum which is actually located inside the same building as a Trader Joe’s in Media, so you can shop for groceries and learn something all in one trip.
What are the most historic towns in Pennsylvania?
As the host to the most famous battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg is one historic town in Pennsylvania that everyone should visit. Head to the Gettysburg National Military Park to learn about the war and the role this town played in it. The town of Lititz was founded in 1756 by Moravians who were seeking religious freedom. If you visit, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time with the numerous preserved historic homes and buildings. And while you’re there, you may as well stop by Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, which was founded in 1861 and is the oldest pretzel bakery in the country.
