72 Best Sights in Pennsylvania, USA

There are few American landmarks as moving as Gettysburg National Military Park, where General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate troops fought and lost to the Union forces of General George Meade from July 1 through 3, 1863. More than 1,300 mournful and inspiring markers and monuments honor the estimated 7,058 soldiers killed in the battle. Thirty-plus miles of marked roads lead through the 6,000-acre park to key battle sites; you can traverse them by driving, bicycling, or hiking yourelf or with a licensed guide, or via guided bus tours. In the first week of July, Civil War reenactors dress in period uniforms and costumes to commemorate the three-day battle.

This is an absolute must-see for railroad buffs. In a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, the remarkable Smithsonian-affiliated museum showcases a world-class collection of 100-plus vintage locomotives and railroad cars made or operated in Pennsylvania. Exhibits contain a treasure trove of photos, artifacts, and memorabilia documenting the history of railroading in the state.

The 3,500-acre park is the location of the 1777–78 winter encampment of General George Washington and the Continental Army, where winter tested and proved the army's perseverance. Begin at the excellent Valley Forge Visitor Center for touring information and to explore displays of historical objects and immersive modern exhibits about the encampment and the men and women of all kinds who spent the winter here. The center also has an area with regional visitor information, an orientation film, and the Encampment Store. Take a nine-stop, 10-mile driving tour (free cell phone guide) or buy the audio guide ($8.95); or take a narrated trolley tour (limited times other than summer; reserve ahead) for $22. Call ahead if you want to hire a private tour guide. Stops include reconstructed log huts of the Muhlenberg Brigade and the National Memorial Arch, which pay tribute to the soldiers, and Washington's headquarters.

In 1777 the army had just lost the nearby battles of Brandywine, White Horse, and Germantown, but Washington and his troops were actually encouraged (although exhausted), because they had fought the British well. While the British occupied Philadelphia, Washington's soldiers endured horrid conditions—blizzards, inadequate food and clothing, and disease. Although no battle was fought at Valley Forge, 2,000 soldiers (of about 12,000) died here. The troops did win the war of will, regaining strength under the leadership of Prussian drillmaster Friedrich von Steuben. In June 1778 Washington led his troops away from Valley Forge in search of the British.

The park contains more than 35 miles of jogging and bicycling paths (bike rentals available in summer; call ahead) and hiking trails, and you can picnic in designated areas. A leisurely visit takes about half a day.

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.

The only surviving European-style opera house in America is the current home of the Opera Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Ballet; for the past century, it was home to the Philadelphia Orchestra. Designed by Napoleon Le Brun and Gustav Runge, the 1857 building has a modest exterior; the builders ran out of money and couldn't put marble facing on the brick, as they had intended. The lavish interior, modeled after Milan's La Scala, has elaborate carvings, murals on the ceiling, and a huge Victorian crystal chandelier.

Completed in 1832 during America's great era of canal building, the 60-mile-long Delaware Canal runs from Bristol north to Easton, and today its towpath draws bicyclists and walkers who appreciate the scenic path with its canal and Delaware River views. It's easy to access the towpath in New Hope. In addition, the restored Locktender's House and Lock 11 ( 145 S. Main St.  fodc.org   Closed weekends Nov.–Apr.) explore how locks work and what daily life was like on the canal. 

Founded in 1824 to honor Benjamin Franklin, this large science museum is as clever as its namesake, thanks to many dazzling hands-on exhibits. Visitors of all ages can experience everything from sitting in the cockpit of a T-33 jet trainer to walking through an enormous artificial heart (15,000 times life-size). To optimize your time, study the daily schedule of science demonstrations and events online before visiting. Also check special exhibitions such as a major traveling show premiering in early 2026 that will look at the creativity of Universal Destinations and Experiences' theme parks. Don't miss the 30-ton white-marble statue of Franklin; you can see the likeness (and an accompanying 3½-minute multimedia presentation) without paying admission. Weekday afternoons are less busy. 

The Franklin Air Show celebrates powered flight with the Wright Model B Flyer and has virtual reality flight simulator experiences. Wondrous Space examines everything from gravity and asteroids to space careers and possible life beyond Earth. The SportsZone conveys the physics, physiology, and material science behind your favorite sport by simulating surfing, testing your reaction time, and more. Shows in the Fels Planetarium (one show included in general admission) focus on the stars, space exploration, comets, and other phenomena. Open seasonally, the outdoor Science Park has play equipment and picnic tables.

The museum and visitor center is the place to start your exploration of the events and impact of the Battle of Gettysburg. A dozen galleries display a compelling mix of the museum's more than 40,000 artifacts, such as scores of weapons, uniforms, and a wooden desk believed to have been used by General Robert E. Lee. Interactive video and audio displays further illuminate the events, the centerpiece being the 377-foot-long "Battle of Gettysburg" cyclorama, a painting in-the-round depicting Pickett's Charge. Made in 1884, the painting is the largest in North America and one of the last cycloramas in existence, now completely restored. Stand in the center with the lights down while stirring narration and special effects immerse you in the story. It's paired with a documentary film, A New Birth of Freedom, in a 45-minute experience. In the main entry hall the National Park Service has an information desk offering help with everything from battlefield walking tours to free ranger-conducted programs. Private, licensed guides may also be hired at the center. There is a restaurant and a bookstore on-site.

Billed as the "Sweetest Place on Earth," Hersheypark offers more than 65 amusement park rides and attractions, including 15 roller coasters; classic rides and kiddie rides; the Boardwalk, a waterpark with a lazy river and wave pool; ZooAmerica, a wildlife park with hundreds of animals; and tons of live entertainment options. Among the park's vintage rides is the Comet, a 1946 wooden roller coaster. Holidays are celebrated with themed decorations and activities.

Part of the appeal of this refuge is its truly strange location for a nature preserve: it's between the airport and an oil refinery, and visitors seem to really enjoy the oddity of it. More than 280 species of hawks, swallows, herons, egrets, geese, gallinules, eagles, orioles, ducks, and other birds have been spotted at this 1,200-acre preserve, the largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania. There are 10 miles of foot trails, an observation deck, and boardwalks through the wet areas. The refuge is also home to fox, deer, muskrat, turtles, and frogs, and you'll likely see large carp and catfish flopping about the lilies. An environmental education center has some explanatory exhibits on wetlands and regional wildlife. There are many guided tours. You can even canoe, kayak, and mountain bike, but there are no rentals here. Binoculars and fishing rods are available for loan, free of charge. The refuge is convenient to I–95, which you can pick up from Penn's Landing.

Intended to make a contemporary design statement, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has some architectural oomph with its dramatic vaulted glass roof. The 450,000-square-foot venue by architect Rafael Viñoly includes the 2,500-seat Verizon Hall, the more intimate 650-seat Perelman Theater, a central plaza, and a rooftop terrace bar. Making their home at the Kimmel are the Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Philly Pops. Free performances are given before some performances and on many weekends in the center's Commonwealth Plaza.

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).

Today it's a public garden with an international reputation for its immaculate, colorful gardens and conservatories full of plants from around the world, but the Longwood Gardens story began in 1906, when Pierre S. du Pont (1870–1945) bought part of a Quaker farm and turned it into his home and the ultimate early-20th-century estate garden, complete with magnificent fountains. Seasonal attractions on the nearly 400 acres of the 1,100-acre property open to the public include tulips and azaleas in spring; floral borders in summer; chrysanthemums in fall; and extremely popular decorated spaces and light displays in the winter holiday season. Late spring through fall, illuminated evening fountain shows (some with fireworks, requiring a separate ticket) in the 1,719-jet main fountain garden are a highlight. Bad weather is no problem, as cacti, orchids, and floral displays fill acres of heated conservatories. The outdoor Waterlily Court has undergone a major expansion (completed in 2025), and a new West Conservatory dedicated to Mediterranean-type landscapes, a Cascade Garden in a new glasshouse, and an outdoor Bonsai Courtyard opened in 2024. Besides children's gardens outside and in the conservatories, kids can explore three tree houses on the grounds. Concerts and other performances (some requiring separate tickets) take place year-round. There's a cafeteria, and the seasonal Beer Garden is a fun dining option. The elegant 1906 restaurant (reservations recommended) serves sophisticated modern American fare in a room that overlooks the main fountain garden.  A new Gardens by Day & Night Ticket (allowing one readmission certain summer days for an extra $6 per ticket) and a Two-Day Pass (10% discount off price of two tickets) are special ticket options with limited quantities available. 

Within walking distance of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Constitution Center, and the First Bank of the United States, the Museum of the American Revolution resides in the heart of historic Philadelphia. Divided into four parts—Road to Independence (1760–75), The Darkest Hour (1776–78), A Revolutionary War (1778–83), A New Nation (1783–present)—the museum’s impressive collection has been in the making for more than a century. Several thousand artifacts, many of which have never been shown before, include General George Washington’s actual tent that he used as his war headquarters; a pair of English holster pistols carried throughout the war by a German American brigadier general; an early-19th-century summer coat worn by a Revolutionary War soldier; and a pair of infant shoes crafted from the stolen coat of a British soldier. Many of the exhibits are interactive and family-friendly, too.

Philadelphia's deservedly popular interactive children's museum, aimed at children ages eight and younger, instills a sense of wonder and fun from the get-go with a towering entrance hall that has a 40-foot-tall sculpture of the Statue of Liberty's torch as its centerpiece. The museum occupies a majestic beaux arts–style building constructed for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, one of just two public buildings still standing from the event. It fills 65,000 square feet with more than 15 themed exhibits, including areas designed for toddlers, where kids can learn through hands-on play. Some popular areas are Food and Family, a mock supermarket; River Adventures, a water area; Wonderland, themed to Alice's adventures; a Makerspace and a Creative Arts Studio for inventing and creating; and a Rocket Room for space adventures. Another highlight is a circa-1908 Dentzel Carousel ride with 52 colorful animals. The 2025 season finale of the TV show Abbott Elementary, about the school's field trip, was filmed at the beloved museum. From fall 2025 through fall 2026, Please Touch will present a special exhibition, Discovering Democracy, as part of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations.   All visitors require advance reservations. Allow about three hours for a visit; weekdays are less crowded. The museum has a café, and there's some free parking in the park.

Shop-'til-you-droppers make a beeline for Rittenhouse Row, the area between Broad and 21st streets and Spruce and Market streets. Lately chains like J.Crew, Aritzia, and Lululemon have been taking over Walnut Street between Rittenhouse Square and Broad Street, but this is still the greatest concentration of chic stores, tony boutiques, and jewelers you'll find in the city.

This is a one-stop spot for exploring the history of chocolate and how it's made. The attractions are many, including a free 30-minute chocolate factory tour ride; Unwrapped, an interactive theatrical performance with chocolate tasting kit; and Create Your Own Candy Bar (additional fee). It's also the starting point for Hershey Trolley Works, which offers historical tours of the town and landmarks relevant to Milton Hershey. The largest Hershey store in the world is here, and there's also an extensive chocolate-themed food court (think milkshakes and s'mores).

Philadelphia's maritime museum houses many nautical artifacts, figureheads, and ship models, as well as interactive exhibits that convey just what the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers have meant to the city's fortunes over the years. You can climb in the gray, cold, wooden bunks used in steerage; unload cargo from giant container ships with a miniature crane; or even try your hand at designing your own boat. Enter the museum by passing under the three-story replica of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, and be sure to check out the Seaport Boat Shop and Ship Model Shack, where members of the Philadelphia Ship Model Society put together scale-model ships in front of visitors' eyes. Tickets to tour the USS Becunia in addition to the museum cost slightly more. During summer season only, visitors can dine at the adjacent Liberty Point restaurant.

One of this natural history museum's most popular attractions is Dinosaur Hall, with reconstructed skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus rex and some 30 others of its ilk, but interactive stations with docents and exhibits on topics including current environmental issues also help visitors engage with science and nature. Other areas are the Big Dig (open weekends at this writing), where you can hunt for real fossils, and Outside In, a hands-on experience where kids can climb into an eagle's nest, visit with animals, and more. State-of-the-art changing exhibitions are another highlight. The more than 35 dioramas of animals from around the world displayed in their natural habitats still have appeal and are gradually being renovated. Founded in 1812, the academy is considered the oldest natural history institution in the western hemisphere and a world leader in the fields of natural-science research and education; the present building dates from 1876.  Plan your visit ahead using the website's floor plan and program list. Weekdays and late afternoons are generally less busy times to visit.

This high-tech, hands-on science education center is the home of "Shark Realm," a 550,000-gallon tank stretching two stories high and thick with sharks, stingrays, and sawfish. The daring can traverse “Shark Bridge,” a V-shaped rope suspension bridge just above the exhibit. In the "Hippo Haven,” hippopotamuses cohabitate with birds, lizards, and tortoises also native to Africa. There are also up-close "animal experiences," penguin feedings, live animal talks, and immersive 3D theater presentations. The aquarium features a coffee shop, an eco-friendly marketplace, and a beer garden (with outdoor seating during the warmer months). To get here, drive or take the ferry from Penn's Landing. Tickets are cheaper if you purchase online ahead of time.

Opened in the Bicentennial year of 1976, this is the first museum of its kind funded and built by a city. The centerpiece is "Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia 1776–1876," an interactive and immersive exhibit that uses technology to tell the stories of pioneers in the freedom movement. The list includes Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a suffragist and conductor on the Underground Railroad; Thomas Morris Chester, the first black lawyer to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court; and Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, a renowned singer who performed for Queen Victoria. Visiting and rotating exhibitions dive deep into the artistic, cultural, and political contributions of African Americans. The museum's gift shop stocks one of the city’s widest selections of books on black culture, history, fiction, poetry, and drama, along with textiles, sculpture, jewelry, prints, and tiles.

Ever since Philadelphian Harold Pitcairn made the first rotorcraft flight in 1928, southeastern Pennsylvania has been considered the birthplace of the helicopter industry, and the impressive aircraft filling this museum in a business park near Brandywine Regional Airport reflect this heritage. A number of leading manufacturers remain in the region. About three dozen vintage and modern aircraft, a room of models, and information boards and short videos reflect the copter's historic roles in war and rescue missions, agriculture, and police surveillance. Docents provide context, and visitors can climb aboard a few aircraft and try the (nonmoving) flight simulator to get a sense of the helicopter experience. The museum is packed with information, but older children will appreciate it. 

One person's wide-ranging, entertaining collections of pop culture Americana from as far back as 1870 fill 100,000 square feet of a former tire factory, stuffed with delights such as a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band, a hundred-foot-long Slinky surrounded by stuffed animals and circus posters, a giant Walkman, a Christmas village from Philly's long-closed Lit Brothers department store. A guided 45-minute tram ride through the Toy Box area provides endless visual stimulation (and auditory; you hear a few of the museum's many Wurlitzers in action). The arrangement is eccentric but amusing: a Hooters sign rises above a vintage Corvette. Visitors can see the classic cars section and the Music Room on their own. Even these are quirky: why are dolls propped on the radios and automatic pianos? All but the most anti-nostalgia types will find something that sparks memories—or amazed laughter from those too young to remember much of this stuff—in this cultural jumble.

At this designated Lancaster County heritage site, take a guided tour of a replica nine-room Old Order Amish house and attached one-room schoolhouse. Along the way, you'll learn about Amish culture, clothing, and day-to-day life. The Super-Saver Tour Package ($47.95) includes a 90-minute mini-shuttle tour; a guided tour of the homestead; and a ticket to see the film Jacob's Choice.

The Amish Experience Theater presents Jacob's Choice, a multimedia production about the history and culture of the Amish people. Multiple screens, three-dimensional sets, and special effects make the show quite engaging. Small children might find some of the effects frightening.

The 40-minute tour of this family-owned farm museum takes you through a 10-room circa-1805 house furnished in the Old Order Amish style, and another tour takes you through a one-room schoolhouse. You can explore the grounds on your own to see a waterwheel, lime kiln, and working artisans such as blacksmiths and farriers. Farm animals and Amish scooters entertain the kids, and van tours are on offer; some include a farm visit. 

This 12-acre historic homestead offers guided tours of an authentically furnished 1840 home and one-room schoolhouse. The property includes a barn with farm animals, blacksmith shop, simulated smokehouse, and market. There are outdoor picnic grounds when the weather permits, and shuttle-bus tours of the area are also available.

The World War II–era USS New Jersey, one of the most decorated battleships in the history of the U.S. Navy, is now a floating museum. It's docked in Camden, New Jersey, just south of the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion amphitheater. A 90-minute guided tour takes you around the upper and lower decks of the ship, or you can explore this fascinating vessel on your own. Some recently launched tours include evening small-group tours of the engine room and other specific areas; and families and groups can arrange to tour, dine, and sleep on the vessel overnight.

This museum built on the site that was Benjamin Franklin's first permanent home in Philadelphia was thoroughly renovated in 2013, reopening as the Benjamin Franklin Museum. The exhibits combine the latest touch-screen displays and computer-generated animation with a chess set, eyeglasses, and other items actually used by the Renaissance man. Franklin's multifaceted roles as scientist, inventor, philosopher, writer, politician, and businessman are represented in various rooms via interactive displays. Franklin, publisher of Poor Richard's Almanack, helped draft the Declaration of Independence and negotiate peace with Great Britain. He also helped found Pennsylvania Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Contributionship, and the American Philosophical Society. In the courtyard adjacent to the museum, architect Robert Venturi erected a steel skeleton of Franklin's former home. You can peek through "windows" into cutaways to see wall foundations, outdoor privies, and other original elements uncovered during excavation. At the Market Street side are several houses, now exhibition halls, that Franklin rented in addition to his main home. Here, too, you can find a restoration of a Colonial-era print shop and an operational post office. Don't forget to get a letter hand-stamped with a "b. free franklin" cancellation.

It's easy to find this little brick house with the gabled roof: just look for the 13-star flag displayed from its second-floor window. Whether Betsy Ross, also known as Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashbourn Claypoole (1752–1836), actually lived here and whether she really made the first Stars and Stripes is debatable. Nonetheless, the house, built around 1740, is a splendid example of a Colonial Philadelphia home. The eight-room house overflows with artifacts such as a family Bible and Ross's chest of drawers and reading glasses. You may have to wait in line, as this is one of the city's most popular attractions. The house, with its winding narrow stairs, is not accessible to people with disabilities. Alongside the house is a courtyard with a fountain, as well as the graves of Ross and her third husband, John Claypoole. Visitors can meet Betsy in her upholstery shop (the only working Colonial upholstery shop in the country) and enjoy interactive historical programming.