Historic Sites In Pennsylvania. More Than Just Parks has 10 incredible must-see sites for you.
I’ve been to so many of these amazing places since retiring from teaching in 2018. Did I mention that I taught history? I spent a lifetime teaching about the history behind these momentous sites. Then I got to see them firsthand. And now I’m sharing the stories of these incredible places with you. It doesn’t get any better than that!
I taught history for over a quarter of a century. Now I enjoy researching and writing these articles for More Than Just Parks.
I’m going to give you my list of the Top 10 Historic Sites in Pennsylvania that you’ll want to see. These are our top 10 sites which we will provide in reverse order. We’ve got amazing monuments, fascinating exhibits, historic museums, legendary battlefields and so much more.
To be clear, this list includes national park sites (as in sites managed by the National Park Service) as opposed to national parks. (More on that below)
Helpful Guides to Pennsylvania Historic Sites
If you are planning to make the trip to the Keystone State than I recommend that you bring along two wonderful resources which will help you maximize your time while you’re there. The Great Book of Pennsylvania: The Crazy History of Pennsylvania with Amazing Random Facts & Trivia by Bill O’Neill is a great way to get acquainted with this fascinating state.
I would also pick up Pennsylvania Bucket List: Trip Planner: List your 75 things to do in Pennsylvania! by Leon Byrns. It’s a great resource which is chock full of ideas for other things you might be interested in doing.
Historic Sites In Pennsylvania
#10. Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
More Than Just Parks counts down from #10 on our list of the best historic sites in Pennsylvania with the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site.
Since history remains my passion I relish the opportunity to bring some amazing historical places to life through the articles which I am privileged to research and write. One such place is the Allegheny Portage Railroad. It was the finishing piece of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal.
“The Portage” opened in 1834, marking the first time that there was one, direct route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
All things to all people, it served merchants, passengers, slaves in pursuit of freedom, and soldiers from the Mexican War.
Things To Do At The Portage
I always recommend that first-timers begin their adventure at the visitor center.
The Summit Level Visitor Center includes various exhibit areas and models including a life- size replica of a canal boat and the locomotive Lafayette, and artifacts from the Portage Railroad.
There are also hands on and interactive exhibits that will interest young and old alike.
There are other exhibits on the park grounds and in the Engine House No. 6 Exhibit Shelter, the Lemon House, and along several park trails.
There’s also a wonderful 20-minute film which features a fictional character, Edgar West, who explains life on the canals then speaks of a change of occupation to Portage Railroad worker.
I always love a good bookstore and you’ll find one there.
The park’s non-profit Eastern National run bookstore carries unusual and hard to find books and souvenirs from the canal and early railroading era.
There’s also biking and hiking which allows visitors to experience over 15 miles of trails in different sections of the park.
RELATED: 10 MUST-SEE Historic Sites In Georgia
#9. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site | Historic Sites In Pennsylvania
At #9 on our list of the best historic sites in Pennsylvania is the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.
Hopewell Furnace showcases an early American industrial landscape from natural resource extraction to enlightened conservation.
Operating from 1771-1883, Hopewell and other “iron plantations” laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant.
The park’s 848 acres and historic structures illustrate the business, technology and lifestyle of our growing nation.
Outdoor activities at Hopewell include: biking, bird watching, hiking, picnicking and wildlife watching.
As a matter of fact, you can even bring your dog with you (if you have one) and take him along for a nice walk.
#8. Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
Coming in at #8 on our list of the best historic sites in Pennsylvania is the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial.
At this point you’re probably asking yourself: Who was Thaddeus Kosciuszko? Simply put, he was a Polish patriot who helped America win its independence in the Revolutionary War. He engineered the colonial defenses in some of the war’s most crucial battles.
Kosciuszko’s greatest contribution to the American Revolution came later that year in the Battle of Saratoga, when the defenses along the Hudson River helped the Continental Army to victory.
At the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial you can visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution.
Visitors will see the room where he received notable visitors such as Chief Little Turtle and Thomas Jefferson. You can also see images of Thaddeus Kosciuszko and other fascinating exhibits.
To learn more about this fascinating figure, I recommend The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution by Alex Storozynski. Storozynski is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who knows how to tell a good story.
#7. Fort Necessity National Battlefield | Historic Sites In Pennsylvania
At #7 on our top 10 list is Fort Necessity National Battlefield.
The Battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal of French power from North America.
With the British victory over the French, the stage was set for the American Revolution.
At the Fort Necessity/National Road Interpretive and Education Center visitors learn about in the diverse cultures and customs of mid-eighteenth century Pennsylvania.
There’s a wonderful bookstore & gift-shop which provides a selection of theme related souvenirs and in-depth material for those who want to learn more after visiting the park.
Exhibits cover the National Road, the first federally funded highway, that linked the east and west of the young United States.
Visitors can also see the grave of British General Edward Braddock who died from a mortal wound he received there.
#6. Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site | Historic Sites In Pennsylvania
We complete the bottom half of our top ten list of the best historic sites in Pennsylvania with the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site.
Located about a mile from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center, the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site celebrates the life and legacy of one of America’s most gifted authors.
Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy is one of the most famous writers and literary critics the world has ever seen.
He penned eternal classics like The Pit and the Pendulum, The Raven, and The Telltale Heart. And he is credited as the “architect of the modern short story.”
Visitors can tour his home which includes images and exhibits that give you a sense of who he was and how he transformed the literary world.
If you love spine-tingling stories that will leave you on the edge of your seat then I recommend Edgar Allan Poe – The Complete Short Stories.
#5. Flight 93 National Memorial
We commence our list of the top 5 historic sites in Pennsylvania with an event that is seared in our national consciousness.
From the NPS:
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their lives.
Because of the actions of the 40 passengers and crew aboard one of the planes, Flight 93, the attack on the U.S. Capitol was thwarted.
At the Flight 93 National Memorial you can learn the incredible and tragic story of this flight. There are three designated walking trails within the memorial for visitors to explore.
While you’re there, I recommend visiting The Tower of Voices. It serves as both a visual and audible reminder of the heroism of the forty passengers and crew of United Flight 93. It’s an incredibly moving experience.
It’s a ninety-three feet tall musical instrument holding forty wind chimes, representing the forty passengers and crew members.
#4. Eisenhower National Historic Site
At #4 on our top ten list of the best historic sites in Pennsylvania is the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
As the Commanding General of the victorious Allied Powers in World War Two, Dwight D. Eisenhower led the largest amphibious assault in history which is credited with helping to defeat Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich.
As President of the United States, he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and sent Army troops to enforce federal court orders which integrated schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.
His largest program was the Interstate Highway System. He promoted the establishment of strong science education via the National Defense Education Act.
The grounds of the Eisenhower National Historic Site are open for self-guided tours. Visitors can enjoy the same landscape and scenic views which led Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower to purchase their Gettysburg farm.
You can tour the farm and surrounding area.
#3. Valley Forge National Historical Park | Pennsylvania National Parks
At #3 is the Valley Forge National Historical Park.
On December 19th, 1777, 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began to build what essentially became the fourth largest city in the colonies at the time, with 1,500 log huts and two miles of fortifications.
It was where the American Continental Army made camp during the winter of 1777-1778. It was here that the American forces became a true fighting unit. Valley Forge is often called the birthplace of the American Army.
I recommend beginning your adventure at the Valley Forge Visitor Center. There’s a wonderful museum exhibit where you’ll learn about how men, women, and children from many different walks of life all struggled together during the winter of 1777-78, and how they ultimately overcame so many hardships in order to march away from Valley Forge a stronger, more unified fighting force.
You can also tour the Encampment Route. It’s a 10-mile driving loop comprised of 9 major tour stops plus additional opportunities to stop and explore Valley Forge.
The route features some of the most scenic views of the park as well as many of the historic sites and monuments.
RELATED: 10 BEST Revolutionary War Sites In America
#2. Gettysburg National Military Park
At #2 on our list of the best historic sites in Pennsylvania we have what many historians consider to have been the most important battle of the American Civil War–Gettysburg National Military Park.
This epic battle was part of Robert E. Lee’s plan to invade the North and win European recognition for the Confederate States of America.
Had the plan succeeded to its greatest extent, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia might have surrounded, or even conquered, the nation’s capital.
The federal government could have been disabled, and high government officials, including even President Abraham Lincoln might have been captured.
The collision of two great armies at Gettysburg put an end to Lee’s audacious plan.
After three days of intense fighting, he was forced to withdraw and lead his badly battered army back through western Maryland and into Virginia.
RELATED: 10 BEST Civil War Sites In America
things to do at gettysburg
I would recommend beginning your tour at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Here you will learn how to visit the park and what to see around Gettysburg.
There is so much to see and do including the following:
- Battlewalk & Campfire Programs: These are led by park rangers who provide visitors with an in-depth program on the people and places that shaped this historic battle.
- Living History Programs: Every weekend from April to October, Civil War living historians will be encamped on the Gettysburg battlefield. Visitors can explore their camps, interact with these knowledgeable historians, and witness as they demonstrate the tools, tactics, and firepower of the two armies that waged war across these now hallowed fields.
- Dedication Day Special Events: These events take place on November 19th. This date marks the dedication of the National Military Cemetery at Gettysburg.
- See The Cyclorama: The “Battle of Gettysburg” Cyclorama at Gettysburg National Military Park is one that has survived. This fantastic painting brings the fury of the final Confederate assault on July 3, 1863 to life, providing the viewer with a sense of what occurred at the battle long touted as the turning point of the Civil War. (Source: NPS)
#1. Independence National Historical Park
At the top of our list of the best historic sites in Pennsylvania is the place which gave birth to liberty–Independence National Historical Park.
As the National Park Service notes, Independence Hall National Historical Park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were both debated and signed inside Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entrance is by tour only. Admission is first-come, first-served for the remainder of February. Timed entry tickets required from March through December.
For Anyone Who Loves History There’s No Place Quite Like It
For anyone who loves history (and even for those folks who don’t) this is one of the most exciting historical tours. At Independence Hall, visitors learn the stories about the people and events which shaped America.
There’s an old saying that goes, “If this place could only talk.” Well, at Independence Hall, it can talk as the stories come to life about the unique history of a very special place which brought together an amazing group of men who produced not one, but two of the most important documents in the history of the world.
Summary Of Historical Sites In Pennsylvania
- Independence National Historical Park
- Gettysburg National Military Park
- Valley Forge National Historical Park
- Eisenhower National Historic Site
- Flight 93 National Memorial
- Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site
- Fort Necessity National Battlefield
- Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
- Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
Map Of Historical Sites In Pennsylvania
About the Folks Behind More Than Just Parks
You should probably know that we don’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. My sons have spent their entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
As for me, I’m a retired lifelong educator and a proud dad of these two wonderful guys who are hopelessly obsessed with the national parks. I taught history for over a quarter of a century. Now I enjoy researching and writing articles for the More Than Just Parks website. I’m always on the hunt for topics where nature and history intersect so please feel free to share any ideas that you might have with me.
We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks.
Meet The Parks Brothers
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers) and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value in land conservation.
We hope you’ll follow our journey through the parks and help us to keep them the incredible places that they are. If you’re interested in joining the adventure then sign up below!
Related Links
To learn more about the difference between the various National Park Service designations check out our article that explains everything!
Civil War Sites: Top 10 Best Civil War Sites & Battlefields
Pennsylvania National Parks: 22 EPIC Pennsylvania National Parks Worth Visiting
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