What historical places can you visit in Pennsylvania?

Matt Benedetto
·6 min read

(WHTM) – Pennsylvania is one of the thirteen original colonies and is home to plenty of historical locations.

Wherever you may be in Pennsylvania or even if you are just visiting the Keystone State, there is most likely a historical location nearby.

Gettysburg National Military Park (Gettysburg, Adams County)

The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War with around 51,112 casualties (around 23,049 Union troops and 28,063 Confederate troops).

The battle lasted three days from July 1 through July 3 and had around 165,620 total troops engaged (around 93,921 Union troops and 71,699 Confederate troops).

Union Brigadier General G.K. Warren defended Little Round Top, which was vital to the defense of the Union lines at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. His efforts are considered to be one of the pivital points of the war. The Statue was dedicated on August 9, 1888. The statue was designed by Karl Gerhardt of Hartford, CT, and cast by the Henry Bonnard Bronze Company of New York. It is eight feet high, and weighs 1,500 pounds.

Visitors today can tour the battlefield, visit the museum and visitor center, take ghost tours, and visit historic buildings.

For more information, visit the Gettysburg National Military Park website.

Independence National Historical Park (Philadelphia)

Those who want to visit one of the nation’s first capitals and see where the Declaration of Independence was signed can visit Independence National Historical Park.

The park doesn’t just have Independence Hall but includes the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, the National Constitution Center, and the Benjamin Franklin Museum.

Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Location where both Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted. Building completed in 1753
Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Location where both Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted. Building completed in 1753

A fun fact about the Liberty Bell is that Pennsylvania is “misspelled” on the bell as it’s spelled Pensylvania.

The park’s attractions are free but Independence Hall does require tickets from March through December.

For more information, visit the Independence National Historic Park website.

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East Broad Top Historic Railroad (Rockhill Furnace, Huntingdon County)

The East Broad Top Historic Railroad was founded in 1856 and is home to the oldest narrow-gauge railroad in the United States.

The railroad construction was delayed until 1872 due to the Civil War.

The train takes passengers on an hour-long tour where they will see the rolling hills, farms, and forest areas.

Train tours today run from May through October at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tickets for the train rides cost the following:

  • Coach

    • $22 for adults (13+)

    • $16 for children (2-12)

  • Open-air

    • $22 for adults

    • $16 for children

  • Caboose

    • $25 for adults

    • $19 for children

For more information, visit the East Broad Top Railroad website.

Washington Crossing Historic Park (Washington Crossing, Bucks County)

On the night of December 25, 1776, George Washington led a group of around 2,400 soldiers across the Delaware River to launch a surprise attack against a garrison of around 1,400 Hessian troops.

This historic park has 500 acres along the Delaware River that has a visitor center, the historic village, Bowman’s Hill Tower, the Thompson-Neely House and Mill, and soldiers’ graves.

Washington Crossing Bridge is a truss bridge spanning the Delaware River that connects Washington Crossing, Hopewell Township in Mercer County, New Jersey with Washington Crossing, Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Washington Crossing Bridge is a truss bridge spanning the Delaware River that connects Washington Crossing, Hopewell Township in Mercer County, New Jersey with Washington Crossing, Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The park also does a reenactment of the crossing on Christmas Day.

Those interested in buying tickets or learning more can visit the Washington Crossing Historic Park website.

Carrie Blast Furnaces (Rankin, Allegheny County)

Near the Steel City, Pittsburgh, Carrie Blast Furnaces was built in 1907 and operated until 1978.

The Carrie Blast Furnaces were owned and operated under both the Carnegie Steel Company and the U.S. Steel Corporation.

Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic site, abandoned industrial steel mill complex, clear fall day, horizontal aspect
Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic site, abandoned industrial steel mill complex, clear fall day, horizontal aspect

Today, visitors have the opportunity to tour the Carre Blast Furnaces from May until November and tickets are $25 ($22 if you buy in advance) and $17 for kids (ages 4-17 – $14 if you buy in advance).

For more information on the tours, visit the Rivers of Steel website.

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Flight 93 National Museum (Shanksville, Somerset County)

On Sep. 11, 2001, two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Centers in New York City but there was a third plane.

Flight 93 was headed to Washington D.C. in another attack attempt but the passengers on that flight had other ideas.

SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 11: A relative of one of the victims pays his respects at the Wall of Names before a ceremony commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the crash of Flight 93 during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the Flight 93 National Memorial on September 11, 2023 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The nation is marking the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks, when the terrorist group al-Qaeda flew hijacked airplanes into the World Trade Center, Shanksville, PA and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

The 40 passengers and the crew on the plane fought the hijackers of the plane and crashed it in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The 2,200 acres include a memorial plaza, a wall of names, and a visitors center.

For more information, visit the Flight 93 website.

Wheatland: President James Buchanan’s Home (Lancaster, Lancaster County)

James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States and is the only President from Pennsylvania (although Joe Biden was born and raised in Scranton for ten years, he never held office in the Commonwealth).

Buchanan was born in Franklin County and served as President from 1857 through 1861 and did not run for reelection.

Buchanan was also considered by many historians to be the worst President in the nation’s history due, in part, to his lack of action as southern states seceded from the union.

circa 1890: Wheatland, the house of James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States of America, situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
circa 1890: Wheatland, the house of James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States of America, situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

This home was built in 1828 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and had a mansion and several buildings over 156.7 acres.

Buchanan moved into the home in 1849 and lived there until he died in 1884.

Those who want to visit the land can do so from Jan. 16 through Nov. 9, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and purchase tickets here.

For more information on the property, visit Lancaster History’s website.

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