From the Liberty Bell to architectural wonders, a getaway to this bustling state offers a journey through the history of the nation
THE TELEGRAPH, JANUARY 27, 2025 — In 1776, the Liberty Bell rang in the place where America began. This symbol of American independence – which bears the message “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the Inhabitants thereof” – now has its own special building in Philadelphia’s National Historical Park, attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe each year.
Both the bell and the hall will feature heavily when the US celebrates its 250th anniversary – the semiquincentennial – in 2026. But for history lovers, they’re just one course of a banquet of landmark treats in Philadelphia’s Historic District. The National Constitution Center and Museum of the American Revolution are among the other big attractions in a sea of much-storied buildings and monuments.
The state of Pennsylvania’s rich history isn’t limited to Philadelphia, however. Think of the state’s largest city as an introductory gateway to an adventure through time where the subjects vary, but the interest levels never dip.
To the north of Philadelphia lies the Moravian Church Settlements of Bethlehem, a new addition to the Unesco World Heritage List in 2024. Settled in 1741 by Moravian immigrants, Bethlehem is studded with distinctive Central European architecture and blessed with a series of historic firsts.
The Gemeinhaus is believed to have acted as America’s first hospital, while the Waterworks was the centrepiece of America’s first municipal water system. Exploring the city takes you from handsome houses to a creekside tannery via a grand Moravian church, built to hold more people than lived in the settlement at the time.
Some of the Lehigh Valley’s charming old buildings have even taken on a new lease of life. The highly regarded Bolete restaurant, for example, serves up its farm-to-table dishes and handmade sauces inside a 200-year-old stagecoach inn.
Its previous home was the Pennsylvania State House, just across the street. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, now known as Independence Hall, is where the Founding Fathers of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence.
Different waves of settlers have played a major part in forming the strands of Pennsylvania’s character. The Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster County, the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch settlement, still live traditional low-technology lifestyles.
Visitors can tour homesteads and buy locally made crafts in the markets as they immerse themselves in the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. For a deeper look, the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum is a living history museum spread across 40 historic structures and 100 acres. You can watch demonstrations of creative techniques passed down through the generations, and horse-drawn cart rides bring the village to life.
The state’s other World Heritage Site finds itself on the UNESCO list for a very different type of building. In the south-west of the state, surrounded by the mountains, hiking trails and rocky outcrops of Ohiopyle State Park, Fallingwater is widely regarded as influential architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece in organic form.
Designed to show off the potential harmony between people and nature, Fallingwater sits above a waterfall in the Laurel Highlands, its cantilevered sandstone terraces blending in with the rock formations either side of the stream.
On the way there, it’s worth making a slight detour to the Gettysburg National Military Park. Touring the battlefield gives an insight into how events of the American Civil War played out, but the most gripping part of the Museum and Visitor Center focuses on the power of words: Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous speeches ever delivered, was issued in Gettysburg four-and-a-half months after the battle.
Gorgeous, river-laced Pittsburgh deserves to be the final port of call on your historic Pennsylvania adventure, and several of its attractions are worth adding to the itinerary. The Heinz History Center looks at western Pennsylvania’s past, covering Pittsburgh’s proud sporting heritage, the world’s oldest jeep and local manufacturer Heinz’s route to world food domination.
Food tours, such as Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tour, are an excellent way of exploring the rich history of the city’s Strip District. When it comes to accommodation, the Parador Inn – a 19th-century mansion given a flamboyant Puerto Rican makeover – is a fun place to stay and within a short distance of Downtown.
This endearingly eclectic journey through Pennsylvania’s heritage and past combines exciting cities and rural customs, sombre battlefields and exquisite architecture – surely there’s no finer way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
The great American getaway
With direct flights from the UK to both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, weaving around Pennsylvania couldn’t be easier.
Start your journey at visitpa.com