Call it the Constitution State, the Keystone State, The Birthplace of America, or just Pennsylvania. No matter the name, Pennsylvania remains one of the most storied American states, dating back to the British colonial days. In the heart of America’s rustbelt, Pennsylvania is one of the scenic states that offers visual gems and hidden spots all year round.
Well within driving distance between other states like Ohio, New Jersey, and New York, Pennsylvania continues to culturally enrich the American experience with its national landmarks, authentic cuisine, and devotion to American history. Get to know the amazing gems that Pennsylvania holds in its borders.
1. The Quaker State Is Named after Quaker Settlers
Of all the unique nicknames that Pennsylvania has, “The Quaker State” is one of them. This is because Pennsylvania officially gets its name in honor of William Penn. William Penn is one of the main founders of the colony of Pennsylvania. William Penn was a fierce advocate of independence against the British, as well as religious freedom. Also, William Penn’s image is the inspiration for the iconic Quaker Oats oatmeal brand by Pepsico.
2. Pennsylvania’s Role in the American Revolution
While New York and Massachusetts get a lot of acclaim for their vital roles in the American Revolution, one can make the argument that Pennsylvania’s role was the most important of all. Many of America’s Founding Fathers and prized inventors like Benjamin Franklin were based in Pennsylvania.
Even after America prevailed against the British, Pennsylvania was ground zero for the “Birthplace of America,” hence one of its well-deserved nicknames. At Independence Hall in Philadelphia, visitors can step inside the very room where Thomas Jefferson and others signed “The Declaration of Independence” and later the official US Constitution.
Philadelphia was home to America’s first official congress sessions, which made sense because it was the original US capital. However, after a brief British invasion in 1778, the US Capital was forced to relocate to New York, and ultimately to Washington D.C. The Liberty Bell is another popular tourist destination where they can pay respects to the brave American colonists who made the ultimate sacrifice for American freedom.
3. Pennsylvania – The Amish Capital
Another unofficial nickname that Pennsylvania has is “The Amish Capital” of the world. In fact, Lancaster County has the highest concentration of Amish followers and citizens. The Amish has roots in Pennsylvania, dating back to the 1600s.
Looking for religious freedom and a split from the Protestant movement in Europe, the Amish set down roots in Pennsylvania. Many of today’s Amish principles come from one of its founders, Jakob Ammann, who was devoted to non-violence and a more simple lifestyle. The first settlers established homes in Lancaster County mainly because of the tremendous and viable farmland.
Today, Lancaster County remains a major tourist spot where visitors worldwide come to admire the simple Amish lifestyle, Amish food, and their unique building architecture.
4. Pennsylvania’s Role in the Civil War
Pennsylvania proved to be ground zero during the American Civil War. Due to its close proximity to the southern states, Pennsylvania became a heavily fortified state for the Yankees. Also, many of the most dramatic and famous Civil War battles took place on Pennsylvanian soil.
Many cities like Pittsburgh became invaluable for developing firearms and other war instruments because of the heavy abundance of coal and steel in the region. Thanks to the historical Pennsylvania Railroad, the Union was able to move troops, arms, and other critical goods steadily, which proved to be instrumental in winning the bloody Civil War.
Today, many remnants of the Pennsylvania Railroad would become converted into the “Main Line” towns. Mainline towns like Blue Bell are home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country. Still, it remains a major tourist draw where visitors can visit museums about Civil War times with some relics still in place.
The entire town of Gettysburg serves as a modern-day monument to the legendary “Battle of Gettysburg” that was fought right before Independence Day. One of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War effectively turned the tide around in the Union’s favor.
To honor the sacrifices made, Gettysburg has official museums that have historical artifacts from that period. With guided tours, tourists can actually step onto the same battlefield that still has many of the preserved guard towers, barracks, and cannons from the period. Of course, Gettysburg is best remembered as the site where President Abraham Lincoln gave the immortal “Gettysburg Address.”
As the center of the abolition movement, many parts of Pennsylvania served as the “Underground Railroad,” where some of the most outstanding Americans, like Frederick Douglass, helped slaves get to freedom.
5. The Birthplace of the Steel Industry
It’s no coincidence that cities like Pittsburgh wear like a badge of honor, “The Steel Capital of the World.” Prior to shifting to steel, Pittsburgh and other nearby towns were heavily involved in ironmaking. That way, come the 19th century, much of the infrastructure was in place to heavily develop steel.
The steel industry took off like a rocket with historical people like Andrew Carnegie, the inspiration for the world-famous Carnige hall in New york, built state-of-the-art steel mills. It didn’t take long for the surrounding Pittsburgh towns and areas to have additional steel mills to continue to transform and modernize America.
The Pittsburgh steel mills were of great importance in expanding the Transcontinental Railroad and, later, the American war effort during World War 2. Some old towns still have remnants of old steel mills available for tourism and as living history.
Once the war ended, many of these steel mills declined rapidly and ultimately shut down for the most part. However, many of these abandoned mills in the Pittsburgh area have been redeveloped for modern-day housing, business centers, land-based casinos, and critical highways for transportation.
Pennsylvania’s Blend of Tradition and Modernity
Whether you’re visiting the icy shores of Lake Erie or the leftover factories of the original Hersey Chocolate plant, Pennsylvania is highly devoted to preserving its unique historical artifacts like the Betsy Ross House. At the same time, many Pennsylvania cities like Philadelphia continue to modernize to serve as true global and International capitals.
The legendary Efreth’s Alley, for example, manages to preserve the original cobblestone streets and many of the original buildings. At the same time, the district offers new buildings and modern-day businesses for unique experiences.
