History of Lancaster, PA

The historic city of Lancaster was founded by German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch, in 1709. A prominent citizen, John Wright, named the city after Lancaster, England, where he formally resided. During the late 1700s, Lancaster's Penn Square was the civic, social and commercial hub of the city. This four-mile stretch along King and Queen Streets was bustling with commerce until the end of the 19th century.

The historic revival and preservation movement, which began in the early 1970s, centered on the Old Town Lancaster district. East Vine Street is considered to be one of the earliest commercially developed sections of the city, with some of the structures dating back nearly 300 years.

Buildings on South Queen Street have dated to events that occurred during the American Revolution and the Civil War, while North Queen Street has been an important commercial area for over 275 years and greatly expanded with the start of the Industrial Revolution.

On nearby Chestnut Street, is the city's most densely-populated section of Victorian-style houses and mansions. This style, which was popular from 1840 to 1910, was sustained by the industrial boom of the mid-19th century.

Today, Downtown Lancaster tells the story of its past via museums and cultural attractions such as the Heritage Center Museum, Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum, Central Market, Fulton Theatre, Demuth Museum, President James Buchanan’s Wheatland, the Historic Lancaster Walking Tour and many, many more.

View more historical and cultural attractions in Downtown Lancaster

View historical and cultural attractions throughout Lancaster County