Historic Lancaster Walking Tour

When visiting a new city on a vacation, often the first tourist activity one searches for is a Walking Tour of the city.  This allows you to get a quick overview of the layout, the history, and the notable points of interest of the city.  Ironically, if you call the city home, it is likely you never even thought to take a walking tour.  Awhile back, my husband and I had a brief afternoon date away from the kids, and it was a beautiful day (albeit a bit too hot), so we jumped in on a walking tour in downtown Lancaster.  Our tour guide seemed surprised we were local, as most visitors were from out of town.  After taking the 2-hour tour, it seemed a shame that this was so.  We really only tapped the surface of the possibilities for exploration.  The guide stated we could come back another time and request a tour of a different portion of town.

The office is located on the second floor of the Lancaster City Visitor’s Center on Penn Square.  You will have to park in a parking garage or use on-street metered parking if you are not from the city.  You’ll pay for the tour (credit cards are accepted) and meet the tour guide in the Visitor’s Center.  The tour starts off right next door at Central Market, which is the country’s oldest continuously operated public farm market, and continues down King Street, then back towards the square.  We headed through the Marriott hotel and down into Lancaster’s Old Town off Vine Street.  Our guide was this sweet elderly man that was so tiny it looked like a hefty gust of wind would sweep him off his feet.  It was obvious he’d done his homework though and seemed able to answer any questions posed to him.

I particularly enjoyed going through the hotel and learning about the various historical buildings that have been absorbed by the hotel, creatively preserved.  One area is currently unfinished and undergoing archaeological exploration since it contains the former home of the late local politician Thaddeus Stevens.  Apparently a tavern was connected to his townhouse and there appears to be some sort of causeway connecting the two in the basement.  A cistern is visible that has recently been identified as playing a role in this location being a functional underground-railroad stop.  Work is underway to make these structures into a museum.

One of my favorite points on the tour was a walk through the alley of a delightful neighborhood affectionately referred to as “Old Town.”  A collection of early eighteenth and nineteenth century townhouses have been carefully preserved creating a quaint and beautiful setting for a stroll.  I honestly had no idea they were there.  Driving around town, you miss so much having to keep your eyes on the road.   Walking allows for slow and careful observation.  Former residences of various notable historical figures were also pointed out including Milton Hershey and Jasper Yeates’ homes.

The next time you are looking for something to do downtown, think like a tourist and take the walking tour.  I promise you will learn so much and look at the city with a fresh perspective.

Admission:  $8.00/adults, $1.00/children under 18

Hours:  Runs from April 1-October 31 (rain or shine), Everyday 1PM, and Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday also has a 10AM tour for market days.

The Historic Lancaster Walking Tour

38 Penn Square

Lancaster, PA 17603

(717) 392-1776

Please visit www.historiclancasterwalkingtour.org for more details!