Tag: Pennsylvania

Uncategorized

Visit Harrisburg’s Capitol: Tours, Museums, and More

L.M. Hosler

Harrisburg, Pennsylvanian is a good place to take children for fun and a great learning experience. It offers entertainment and educational opportunities.

In 1897, the capital building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania burnt. This left the Pennsylvania government with no building for the government to conduct the business of government.

The new capital building which was built between 1902 and 1906 is one of the most admired in the USA. It is a beautiful work of Architectural and artistic while also full of history. The building is full of art, beautiful paintings, murals, sculptures and history. The new capital building was designed by a young and upcoming architect, Joseph Huston. it is designed in American Renaissance style. Huston’s vision was to build a building that was a palace full of art and he accomplished that. There was a lot of competition for the rights to build the capital building. Joseph Huston won the contract and completed the building. After the completion of the capital building Huston was accused of taking bribes and conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania government. He was convicted and spent six months in prison. The building reflects many different types of styles throughout the building. Italian, Greek, Roman and French are all part of the buildings charm and beauty.

As you first enter the capital building, the first thing you will notice is the marvelous centerpiece staircase. It is often the source of group photos. Schools plan class trips to tour the building and have their class photos taken on these steps. Above the staircase is a 52 million pound dome. At the top of the staircase, it turns to both the left and the right.

The Rotunda Of The Pennsylvania Capital building in Harrisburg showcases a beautiful staircase.

The 52 Million Pound Dome Over The Rotunda

The Welcome Center in the Capital Building

The welcome center in the capital building is fun for the adults and children. There are interesting and educational trivia games to play. There is also a gift shop and places to grab a quick bite to eat near the Welcome Center. Children and adults can learn how laws are passed.

Children and adults can take free tours through the capital. The tours are popular and fill up quickly. It is best to call in advance and schedule a tour. Afterwards, they can find the Welcome Center of the building. Here, there’s trivia games and different learning experiences for everyone.

These are only a few of the highlights of visiting the Capital Building of Pennsylvania. Guided tours are offered by guides familiar with the history of the building.

The Pennsylvania Museum The Pennsylvania Museum is located near the capital building, within easy walking distance for most people. It is located at 300 North Street, Harrisburg. The museum has three floors full of interesting exhibits that families can enjoy.

The ground floor is where you enter, pay for your tickets and you are given a map of the museum. You can then choose which floors and exhibits you want to visit.

Ticket prices

  • Adults $7
  • Senior Citizens $6
  • Children $5

The first floor in the museum exhibits artifacts exhibits featuring old dishes, some broken or cracked. It also displays items that some of us senior citizens still remember from our childhood. There are also a lot of exhibits and a video which emphasizes the civil rights movement throughout Pennsylvania’s history. The exhibits on the first floor are sometimes changed to add new exhibits.

Second Floor

The second floor of the museum is my personal favorite. This floor has Native American exhibits, civil war exhibits, and industry and transportation exhibits. The Native American longhouses were pretty neat. Here there are old covered wagons, old stagecoaches and a turnpike display. The turnpike display shows an old car paying its toll at the tollbooth. On this floor there’s also one of the first tiny campers for campers.

An old covered wagon from early American exhibited at the State Museum of Pennsylvania

 Attribution:  Ad Meskens  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Third Floor

While the third floor wasn’t my favorite there’s a lot of interesting exhibits. Those who are interested in nature, ecology, animals, birds will enjoy these exhibits. There’s also a planetarium on this floor.

Make the Most of Your Trip

Both the capital building and the State Museum of Pennsylvania can take several hours to explore thoroughly. You may want to visit everything so be sure to plan ahead. Schedule your tour of the capital in advance and plan to spend a few hours at the museum. Make a plan that includes lunch whether it’s in the capital building or a restaurant nearby. Then enjoy a day of fun and education with your family.

Copyright

Aug 30, 2025

Linda Hosler

Uncategorized

Discover Pennsylvania’s Historical and Fun Attractions for Kids Part 2

L.M. Hosler

Two Historic Cities In Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is certainly one great city full of America’s exciting history and historic buildings. Nevertheless, we can add some other interesting places in Pennsylvania. These are marvelous places for families to visit. Gettysburg is a historic battlefield and full of history about the Civil War. Lancaster is a charming city where many Amish live and many great places to explore.

Gettysburg, Pa

Gettysburg has been called the turning point of the Civil War. The south had been winning the war up to the point of Gettysburg. It was at Gettysburg that the Union Army stopped the southern army’s march to the north. It was at Gettysburg that President Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address Speech. Gettysburg is dedicated to all the great men who died there.

Gettysburg National Military Park

Your first stop at Gettysburg might be at the Museum and visitor center where there are plenty of parking spots. Inside the 2200 square foot museum there are cold drinks, snacks and bathrooms. The museum offers exhibits, a gift shop and a ranger to answer questions. There plenty of historic exhibits from the Civil War including guns, uniforms and even a large cannon.

Tour The Battle Field

There are various ways of touring the Gettysburg Battlefield and learning about Gettysburg and the famous battlefield.

  • By Car. Using your car, you are free to go at your own pace. You can view what you are most interested in seeing.
  • Guided car tour: An experienced tour guide accompanies you. They are there to answer questions. They know the best places to show you. These tours have varying fees.
  • On horseback: Tour the battlefield on horseback like the soldiers who fought at Gettysburg. Horse rental fees are generally charged.
  • Walking the trails if you are a hiker.
  • Car and Walking: This is a great option as the park has 6000 acres. Driving on your own allows you to stop and view whatever you what to see.

Significant Spots To Visit At Gettysburg

Confederate General E Lee Memorial at Gettysburg Battlefield
  • Little Round Top was a significant area where fierce fighting took place with Union soldiers eventually winning the hill.
  • Cemetery Ridge which was the headquarters for General Meade and the Union soldiers made camp.
  • Big Round Top which is the highest point of the Gettysburg Battlefield. There are five monuments at the top of the ridge.
  • Sachs covered bridge which some say is haunted by confederate soldiers who were hung from the bridge.
  • There are multiple museums throughout Gettysburg that are worth checking out.
  • Jennie Wade house. Jennie Wade, a civilian was killed by a confederate bullet while she was making bread to feed the Union Army.
Little Round Top Gettysburg Battlefield
Sachs Covered Bridge Gettysburg Pa

Lancaster, Pa

Amish children on the way to school

Lancaster is famous for it Amish population. It’s the largest Amish community in America. The Amish are famous for still living without electricity, cars, and modern technology. Most Amish still dress in traditional clothing and use horse and buggies. They are well known for their country cooking, quilting, religion and furniture building. Let’s check out some interesting things you can find in Amish country.

  • Amish farms which can offer tours and buggy rides.
  • Kitchen Kettle is an outdoor type of market but with about forty indoor shops. These include shops that sell canned goods, jams & relishes, and leather goods. There is a yarn shop that also offers free classes and workshops. You can also find sweet shops and cheese shops. There’s also a restaurant and homemade ice cream. I was here once and would love to go back.
  • Green Dragon Flea Market is 60 acres of a local farm market and flea market combination. It has indoor and outdoor shopping. It boasts seven large buildings with some one hundred vendors showing their crafts and wares.
  • Amish quilt shops: There are many quilting shops throughout Lancaster. No trip to Lancaster would be complete without shopping for a quilt. Make sure you have plenty of money or a credit card. These beautiful handmade quilts can be quite expensive.
  • Amish restaurants are the place you will want to eat at in Lancaster. The Amish are famous for their home cooking. Two well know restaurants are “Bird in Hand Restaurant and Smorgasbord” and “Shady Maple Smorgasbord.
An Amish family traveling by horse and buggy

Entertainment in Lancaster Pa

  • Sight and Sound Theater: This theater is for young and old. It does plays based on Bible stories using live animals. I have seen Joseph, David, and Samson at this theater and enjoyed every one of them. Currently the story of Noah is playing.
  • Dutch Apple Dinner Theater offers a great dinner and a musical. It also has a children’s theater for the little ones.
  • Dutch Wonderland is a smaller version of Disney Land. It features over thirty rides and a show. Duke’s Lagoon is a small water pad to keep the kids cool on a hot summer afternoon. There’s also fifteen acres of campgrounds for family camping.

These are two cities in Pennsylvania which offer a lot to families. They offer history lessons for the children as well as a fun time. Warm weather and summer vacations are just around the corner. You might want to consider visiting the great state of Pennsylvania and having the time of your life.

Uncategorized

Discover Pennsylvania’s Historical and Fun Attractions for Kids Part 1

L.M. Hosler

Vacation in Pennsylvania and Bring The Children

Pennsylvania is the place to bring your children on a fun filled and educational vacation. Here in Pa, children can visit a working farm. They can learn about the Amish. They can see sites where history was made. Children can also visit zoos and wildlife parks. They will have fun learning every day.

History in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pa is full of history for the whole family from children to grandparents, there’s lots to learn and enjoy. Philadelphia, Pa was the site of the first Continental Congress and the first capital of the new country, America. In 1776 The Declaration Of Independence was read by John Nixon from the steps of what is now Independence Hall. This document was the beginning of the separation of the thirteen colonies from England.

Also in Philadelphia, you can visit several museums. These include the Ben Franklin Museum and Museum of Art. There is also The Franklin Institute, which deals with science. Additionally, the Betsy Ross Museum and The National Constitution Center are also museums worth checking out. Some of these museums charge admission fees, while others are free. There are many more museums in the Philadelphia area worth visiting.

Visiting the Liberty Bell is a must see.

Students viewing the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pa

The Liberty Bell is another piece of American history. It can be seen in Independence Hall sporting its famous crack. The Liberty Bell was ordered by the Pa Assembly in 1751 from White Chapel Foundry located in London.

Pennsylvania Zoos

Historical marker for the Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

There are several nice zoos around the state of Pennsylvania.

  • ZooAmerica located in Hershey Pa is eleven acres which is actually a part of Hershey Park. ZooAmerican showcases some 200 species of North American wildlife
  • Tobias Lake is a wildlife park which was began in 1965. It features a Safari tour, where you can view most animals in their natural habitat. There’s an African lion, a Bengal tiger, an a giraffe. There’s also a reptile building where kids can learn about reptiles. There’s exotic birds, monkeys and a petting zoo. Take a picnic lunch and the children will love it.
  • While you are in Philadelphia don’t forget to visit the famous Philadelphia Zoo. The Philadelphia Zoo was the first Zoo in America. It covers forty two acres and has nearly 1300 animals. The zoo also features a great collection of botanical plants.
  • Penn’s Cave & Wildlife encompasses sixteen hundred acres. You can take a guided tour in a flat bottom boat through the caverns. Additionally, you can take a ninety-minute tour through the wildlife park. There are about fifty steps to the main entrance of the cavern. This is not suitable if you are handicapped.
  • T & D’S Cats of The World is located in Penns Creek, Pa. It is a refuge organization that takes in abused and mistreated animals. Starting mostly with wild cats, it now has bears, foxes, parrots and a bird Aviary.

The above is just a small list of family-friendly and educational places in and around Pennsylvania. Kids would enjoy these places and have fun learning. These places are great for home schooled students.

Discover Pennsylvania’s Historical and Fun Attractions for Kids Part 2