How Columbia and Millersville nearly became the county seat for Lancaster

Lancaster County's first courthouse was not at Penn Square. It wasn't even in Lancaster City.

Tschantz Graveyard: The final resting place for several of Lancaster’s first settlers and one of the County’s oldest cemeteries

The First Mennonite Settlement in Lancaster County In 1710, the first large-scale European settlement in what…

Conestoga Wagon: Century Strong Ship of Inland Commerce

The Conestoga wagon, as known as "the ship of inland commerce," was used for over a…

Haunted Indian Gold Adventure

In 1870, treasure hunters descended into Safe Harbor. Under the cover of darkness, they searched for…

Haunted treasure lies hidden in Safe Harbor; chaotic spoils of the French & Indian War

In 1870, treasure hunters descended into Safe Harbor. Under the cover of darkness, they searched for…

The Great Ice Flood of 1904 that erased Lancaster County towns from the map

In 1904 an ice flood destroyed towns along the Susquehanna. Flooding far exceeded what occurred in…

Wooden Nickel proves to be a priceless heirloom. Brief history of wooden nickels in the United States

I recently rediscovered these wooden nickels in a keepsake box buried in the back of a…

Was Lancaster County formed to rid Chester of its “thieves, vagabonds, and ill people”?

Infested with Thieves, Vagabonds, and Ill People In 1728, residents living in the backwoods of Chester…

How millions of potato bugs conspired to cause the worst trolley accident in Lancaster County history

The worst trolley accident in Lancaster County history occurred on Sunday, August 9, 1896, causing the…

How did this Martic Forge property end up with 300 millstones? Learn the history of Flory’s Mill.

After years of driving past this brick wall with embedded millstones, I wondered two things. Why are…

Lime Kiln Adventure

These small medieval-looking fortresses were never strongholds charged with protecting local villagers but essential tools for…

Along the Susquehanna at the mouth of the Conestoga River lies a village born in fire but died from ice. Survey the razed company ghost town of Safe Harbor.

There are three Safe Harbors: the Safe Harbor Hydroelectric Dam, the 1930s Village at Safe Harbor, and…

Safe Harbor Adventure

Along the Susquehanna at the mouth of the Conestoga River lies a village born in fire…

Colemanville Covered Bridge Adventure

On the banks of the Pequea Creek exists the small hamlet of Colemanville. This town once…

Covering a wooden bridge has nothing to do with the horses that use them. Learn why when you visit Lancaster’s second-longest.

1,500 covered bridges use to cross the streams and rivers of Pennsylvania. Today 200 remain and…

100 years ago Lancaster’s trolleys transported 12 million people annually. Today almost all signs are gone. Join the search for the lost Pequea Trolley

Beginning in the late 1800s, a system of trolleys ran all over Lancaster County. One line…

Pequea Trolley Adventure

100 years the Conestoga Traction Company annually moved 12 million passengers to all corners of the…

Lancaster County once boasted nearly 500 of these silent stone sentinels. Today fewer than 20 percent remains. Unlock the mystery of these ancient masonry guardians.

Drive the back roads of Lancaster County, and you may have noticed small medieval-looking fortresses embedded…

Side Quest: Revolutionary conspirator and future failed president. Behold the East Orange Street house that sheltered both men.

Would you believe this stately 1749 colonial style mansion in Lancaster City sheltered both a Revolutionary…

Side Quest: What are those mysterious shields adorning historic Lancaster buildings?

Walk around the older neighborhoods of Lancaster City, and you might spy medallions like these adorning…