Pennsylvania attractions

Old City is a neighborhood in Central City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for its antiquated charm and many historic sites important to the birth of the United States. Wander down its narrow cobblestone streets and you'll feel like you're stepping through a time warp into 18th-century colonial America.

See more than 10,000 plants on a walk through Longwood Gardens, located on the former estate of the du Pont family in the idyllic Brandywine Valley. Divided into six districts, the vast property includes an orchid house, a show-stopping fountain garden, and leisurely trails that meander through meadows and over bridges. An hour outside of Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens is one of the best places in Pennsylvania for a breath of fresh air.

The New Hall Military Museum is devoted to early American military history, with a focus on the Continental Marines, Army, and Navy. Housed in a recreation of the historic building used by Henry Knox (the country’s first Secretary of War) and his staff, the museum is a highlight of Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park.

Discover the story of the nation’s founding at the Museum of the American Revolution. Located in the historic center of Philadelphia, the museum uses exhibit galleries, object theater, and recreated scenes to take visitors on a journey from the beginning of the conflict in the 1760s through to the creation of the nation.

The USA’s oldest art museum and art school, the 1805-opened Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts—PAFA for short—houses American art from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Occupying a striking historical building, it beckons with works by luminaries such as Edward Hopper, Thomas Eakins, and Gilbert Stuart.

Since 1998, the Hard Rock Cafe in Philadelphia has been offering travelers a true taste of classic Americana in the City of Brotherly Love. Visitors can tuck into juicy burgers and sip on chocolatey milkshakes in a lively environment that pays homage to tons of musical greats. Relax in a cozy booth and gaze out at memorabilia from Elton John, the Beatles, and Jim Morrison.

Anyone curious about the history, heritage, and daily life of America’s Amish will be fascinated by the community at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This 200-year-old house—one of the nation’s oldest Amish attractions—hosts house and farm tours, cultural demonstrations, and interactive classes.

This park was one of five green squares in Philadelphia planned by William Penn, the founder of the colony of Pennsylvania. Having served as a site for cattle grazing as well as a burial plot, the park now fulfills its original purpose as a recreational space, with people coming here to sunbathe, stroll, and picnic.

In US history, the Delaware River is best known for George Washington’s brave crossing around Trenton, New Jersey, when he directed a surprise attack during the Revolutionary War. Today, the river is home to a vibrant modern waterfront that winds past Philadelphia, where locals and visitors alike can find great food, music, shopping, and summer festivals. The 330-mile (531-kilometer) waterway also attracts outdoor enthusiasts looking to kayak, fish, and swim.

One of the oldest Quaker meetinghouses in the city, Arch Street was built atop a burial site deeded to the Religious Society of Friends by Pennsylvania founder, William Penn. Now a National Historic Landmark, the Georgian-era building—which bears a simple design, characteristic of Quaker meetinghouses—is open to the public.

Washington DC’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial may be the best-known such monument in the country, but the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial offers another moving space to mourn those who died in the war. Honoring 648 Philadelphians who were killed or missing in action, the riverside memorial is a poignant reminder.

Famed for its atmospheric cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and tree-lined green spaces, Society Hill is one of Philadelphia’s most upscale residential neighborhoods—first settled in the 1680s, it’s also one of the oldest. Non-residents are also drawn here for its eclectic mix of restaurants, stores, and historic attractions.

Encompassing South Broad Street from City Hall to Washington Avenue and reaching west to 15th Street and east to 13th Street, Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts is a sizable arts district and cultural destination in Center City. It’s home to many of the city’s top theaters and arts organizations, plus high-end hotels and restaurants.

When people think of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they usually think of the World War I monument at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. However, Philadelphia’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors the many fallen heroes from the American Revolutionary War. Inside the tomb are the remains of a soldier found in Washington Square, formerly used as a cemetery.

Travel back in time to the Battle of Gettysburg during a visit to the Gettysburg Heritage Center. Interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and technologically advanced displays offer insight into this pivotal fight of the Civil War. Visitors will find engaging installations and 3D photographs that showcase stories of both civilians and soldiers, as well as information about the country’s bloodiest battle.

Home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, Heinz Field can pack in more than 65,000 fans on game day. Seats in this stadium on the banks of the Allegheny River offer views of the city skyline and riverfront. The venue also hosts large concerts and University of Pittsburgh football games.

If you want to follow in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers, head to Powel House. One of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the county, this historic house was once home to one of Philadelphia’s wealthiest families. Powel House regularly hosted George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, and is now a well-preserved emblem of 18th-century life—it glitters with hundreds of years of history and glamor.

Independence Mall is a three-block stretch of Independence National Historical Park that includes several of Philadelphia’s most visited historic sites. This is where you’ll find the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, and the President’s House Site—a remarkable collection of buildings that has earned the mall the nickname “America’s Most Historic Square Mile.”

One of the few of its kind in the US, the Duquesne Incline is a particularly scenic way to get up to Mt. Washington. Built in 1877—and refurbished in 1963— this cable car shuttles passengers from Pittsburgh’s South Shore neighborhood to an overlook with panoramic views of the city and its rivers. At the top, explore the museum dedicated to Pittsburgh history and inclines around the world, as well as the machine room to admire the funicular’s inner workings.

In 1860, the Civil War came to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The stories of its townspeople are told at the Shriver House Museum, a restored home occupied by the Shriver family during the Battle of Gettysburg. The house was occupied throughout the battle, and today, it has been restored to its original condition and is open to the public as a museum.

Mt. Washington is a hilltop neighborhood directly south of downtown Pittsburgh. Towering 450 feet (137 meters) above the Ohio and Monongahela rivers, some of the earliest settlements in the city were here. The former Coal Hill was renamed Mt. Washington in the 1800s, a call back to when General George Washington first visited the area during the American Revolution.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of America's most historic public gardens, full of exotic plant species since 1893. Its elaborate 15-acre (six-hectare) layout features mostly floral exhibits, as well as steel and glasswork Victorian greenhouse architecture. The conservatory was founded in the late 19th century by local steel magnate Henry Phipps and later given to the city of Pittsburgh. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as one of the greenest buildings in the country with a LEED-certified visitor center and production greenhouse.

A century-old structure on the University of Pittsburgh campus, the soaring Cathedral of Learning features a late Gothic Revival design and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This 42-story structure is one of the tallest educational buildings in the world and is a must-see for architecture lovers and first-time visitors to Pittsburgh. Marvel at the lofty Commons Room, the Nationality and Heritage Rooms—each showcasing a specific global culture—and the panoramic 36th floor.

Home to the USA’s oldest learned society, the American Philosophical Society (APS) Museum lies in Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, close to its sister institution, the APS Library. Housing the APS’ collection of manuscripts and artifacts; it works to spotlight American history from the 18th century to today.

The only museum of its kind in Philadelphia, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum has been designated the best car collection in the world. Built up over 50 years, the collection contains more than 75 historically significant cars including Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Mercedes, Jaguar, Bentley, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Corvette.

This popular Philadelphia museum showcases captivating stories of freedom fighters, movement leaders, and politicians—including Jackie Robinson, Nelson Mandela, Jim Henson, and Malala Yousafzai—through interactive exhibits and contemporary art pieces. Explore numerous galleries, including permanent exhibitions such as Liberty Hall and Heroes from Around the World.

Founded in 1887, the Penn Museum is one of the top anthropology and archaeology museums in the world. With a rich history of scientific expeditions around the globe, the museum holds nearly a million art objects and artifacts that showcase the development and achievements of humanity.

The National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is the place to begin your exploration of historic Gettysburg. After watching a short orientation film, check out the Civil War artifacts on display, and marvel at the iconic 360-degree cyclorama painting of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Station Square is a mixed-use complex featuring shopping, dining, and entertainment. Located in the South Shore neighborhood along the Monongahela River, the area was originally designed as a railroad complex for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad in the late 1800s and was redeveloped in the 1970s as a commercial space. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular gathering spaces for locals and visitors alike.

The Kamin Science Center (formerly known as the Carnegie Science Center) is a multi-floor museum and research center featuring family-friendly exhibits, a planetarium and observatory, and a huge cinema theater. Located next to Acrisure Stadium on the bank of the Ohio River, the center opened in 1991 as the third of the Carnegie Institute’s four museums in Pittsburgh.