9 Best Sights in Lancaster, Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Built in 1719 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hans Herr House is the oldest building in Lancaster County and the oldest remaining Mennonite meeting house in the Western Hemisphere. It is believed to have been the residence of Herr, a Mennonite bishop, and was where his descendants lived. The main house remained a home until the early 1900s, when it fell into disuse. Never modernized, the house retains most of its original old-country German features, which were preserved when it was restored in the 1970s. An hour-plus tour covers the house and grounds, which include two other Pennsylvania German homes, Colonial-era barns and outbuildings, and a collection of period farm equipment. The site's re-created Native American longhouse, which illuminates the culture of the Conestoga–Susquehannock tribe, is a highlight.

Built in 1889, this indoor farmers' market gave a new home to the city's original open-air market, in operation since 1742. The grand Romanesque building is a city fixture as a place to shop for fresh produce, meat, flowers and baked goods, most of it from the county's farms. In addition to Amish and Mennonite staples like Lebanon bologna and chowchow, there are stalls selling globally inspired prepared foods, from pierogis to Puerto Rican empanadas. It's open 6 am--3 pm on market days (Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday).

This open-air museum showcases Pennsylvania German rural life and local folk culture between 1750 and 1940. Founded by brothers Henry and George Landis on their homestead in the 1920s, the farm and village are now operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. You can visit the more than 15 historical buildings that have been moved here from other Lancaster County locations, with costumed guides providing interesting bits of history. There are demonstrations of skills such as spinning and weaving, pottery making, and tinsmithing. Many of the crafts are for sale in the delightful museum shop.

This museum includes the restored 18th-century home, studio, and garden of Charles Demuth (1883–1935), one of America's first modernist artists, who lived in the city of Lancaster for most of his life. A watercolorist, Demuth found inspiration in the geometric shapes of machines and modern technology, as well as the flowers in his mother's garden. Items from the 42-piece collection of Demuth's works are displayed on a rotating basis; one gallery is dedicated to changing exhibits of regional and national artists. Next door is the now-shuttered Demuth Tobacco Shop, which dates to 1770.

A self-proclaimed "Kingdom for Kids," this 44-acre amusement park features rides and activities suited for families with younger children. Most rides, such as the roller coaster, merry-go-round, and giant slide, are quite tame. The adjacent water park (no separate admission), Duke's Lagoon, is open weekends, Memorial Day through Labor Day. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the park is open for its "Dutch Winter Wonderland," with holiday-themed rides and a light show. The Cartoon Network Hotel is next door; hotel guests get special park admission discounts and early access to the park and rides.

The modern architecture of this museum belies the deep collection of Lancaster County artifacts within. Exhibits illuminate the history of Lancaster County going back 350 years. Furniture, tools, crafts, and Native American objects are on display. On the grounds, the peaceful Tanger Arboretum features 250 kinds of trees. Also on the grounds is Wheatland, the home of President James Buchanan, which you see up close on a tour run by LancasterHistory.

This small but first-rate museum about Mennonite history and culture has exhibits of furniture, needlework, tools, and photographs. The highlight of the center is a reproduction of the tabernacle carried by the Hebrews on their journey through the wilderness; a 35-minute multimedia presentation tells the story. There is also an extensive bookstore and a gift shop selling international crafts. Don't miss the Fraktur—elaborate, usually illustrated, works of Gothic calligraphy on paper (think needlework samplers).

Set on 33 acres, Historic Rock Ford Plantation is the restored homestead of General Edward Hand, a Revolutionary War commander, George Washington's confidant, and wealthy landowner. Period antiques and folk art are displayed in the 1794 Georgian-style mansion, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. In partnership with the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania, the plantation presents programs on the legacy and stories of the slaves who lived and worked on Hand’s farm and in the household.

Wheatland was the home of James Buchanan, the only U.S. president from Pennsylvania, who served from 1857 to 1861. A National Historic Landmark, the restored 1828 Federal-style mansion and outbuildings display the 15th president's furniture just as it was during his lifetime. A one-hour tour, departing from the LancasterHistory museum, includes a profile of the only bachelor to occupy the White House; a movie; and access to the arboretum on the grounds. There are holiday candlelight tours with costumed guides.