National Register of Historic Places listings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

A map showing where Lancaster County is in Pennsylvania.

This page is all about the amazing historic places in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania that are listed on something called the National Register of Historic Places. Think of this register as a special list that helps protect important buildings, sites, and areas across the United States.

These places are super important because they tell us stories about the past. They might be old homes, factories, bridges, or even places where important events happened. By being on this list, they get special attention and help to make sure they are preserved for future generations, like you!

Lancaster County has a lot of these cool historic spots – 209 of them! The city of Lancaster itself has 57 of these, which are listed on a separate page. This list focuses on the other 153 places found throughout the rest of the county. Some places are so special they are called National Historic Landmarks, which is an even higher level of importance!

What Kinds of Historic Places Are There?

Lancaster County is rich in history, and you can find all sorts of interesting places on the National Register. From old houses where famous people lived to unique bridges and important industrial sites, each one has a story to tell.

Historic Homes and Estates

Many homes in Lancaster County are on the list because of their age, unique architecture, or the important people who lived there.

Abbeville is an old home in Lancaster Township. It was added to the list in 1978.
The James Buchanan House, also known as Wheatland, is a very important place. It was the home of James Buchanan, who was a President of the United States! It's located in Lancaster Township and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1966.
The Joseph Bucher House in Marietta is another historic home, listed in 1979.
Donegal Mills Plantation near Mount Joy is a large historic property that tells us about life in the past. It was listed in 1978.
The Hans Herr House in West Lampeter Township is super old, dating back to 1719! It's one of the oldest surviving buildings in the region and was listed in 1971.
The Johann Agust Sutter House in Lititz is another interesting old home, added in 1982.
Witmer's Tavern in East Lampeter Township was a historic stopping place for travelers, listed in 1978.
Wright's Ferry Mansion in Columbia is a beautiful old house from the 1700s, listed in 1979.

Cool Covered Bridges

Lancaster County is famous for its many covered bridges, and several of them are on the National Register! These bridges are like tunnels made of wood, built to protect the bridge timbers from the weather.

Baumgardner's Mill Covered Bridge is southwest of Willow Street. It was listed in 1980.
Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge is southeast of Ephrata and was added in 1980.
Buck Hill Farm Covered Bridge is south of Lititz, listed in 1980.
Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge is south of Denver, also listed in 1980.
Colemanville Covered Bridge is northeast of Pequea, listed in 1980.
Erb's Covered Bridge is north of Rothsville, listed in 1980.
Forry's Mill Covered Bridge is northeast of Columbia, listed in 1980.
Herr's Mill Covered Bridge is southwest of Soundersburg, listed in 1980.
Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge is southwest of Manheim, listed in 1980.
Keller's Covered Bridge is on Middle Creek Road, listed in 1980.
Landis Mill Covered Bridge is near the Park City Center, listed in 1980.
Leaman Place Covered Bridge is south of Intercourse, listed in 1980.
Lime Valley Covered Bridge is north of Refton, listed in 1980.
Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge is south of Christiana, listed in 1980. It even extends into another county!
Neff's Mill Covered Bridge is west of Strasburg, listed in 1980.
Pine Grove Covered Bridge is southeast of Kirkwood, listed in 1980. This one also extends into another county.
Pinetown Covered Bridge is east of Lancaster, listed in 1980.
Pool Forge Covered Bridge is northwest of Churchtown, listed in 1980.
Red Run Covered Bridge is northwest of Terre Hill, listed in 1980.
Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge is northeast of Columbia, listed in 1980. It was damaged by a storm in 2011 but is still historic!
Shearer's Covered Bridge is in Manheim, listed in 1980.
Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge is south of Manheim, listed in 1980.
Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge is southwest of Churchtown, listed in 1980.
White Rock Forge Covered Bridge is south of Kirkwood, listed in 1980.
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge is west of Brownstown, listed in 1980.

Old Factories and Mills

Lancaster County also has a history of industry, with many old factories and mills that are now protected.

The Ashley and Bailey Silk Mill in Marietta was a place where silk was made. It was listed in 1980.
The Bachman and Forry Tobacco Warehouse in Columbia shows the importance of tobacco in the area's past. It was listed in 1979.
The Bowmansville Roller Mill in Bowmansville is an old mill that processed grains, listed in 1990.
George Brown's Sons Cotton and Woolen Mill in Mount Joy was a textile factory, listed in 1995.
The Columbia Wagon Works in Columbia made wagons, which were very important for transportation long ago. It was listed in 2001.
The Eby Shoe Corporation in Ephrata was a shoe factory, listed in 1989.
Kreider Shoe Manufacturing Company in Elizabethtown was another shoe factory, listed in 1980.
Mascot Roller Mills in Upper Leacock Township is another historic mill, listed in 1983.
The New Holland Machine Company in New Holland was an important manufacturing site, listed in 2000.
The Nissly Swiss Chocolate Company in Mount Joy sounds delicious! It was listed in 1996.
The Oregon Mill Complex in Manheim Township is another old mill site, listed in 1985.
The Stehli Silk Mill in Manheim Township was another place where silk was produced, listed in 2014.

Historic Districts and Communities

Sometimes, not just one building, but a whole area or group of buildings is considered historic. These are called historic districts.

The Andrews Bridge Historic District in Colerain Township is a historic area around a bridge, listed in 1988.
The Chickies Historic District includes parts of East Donegal Township, West Hempfield Township, and Marietta, listed in 2005.
The Columbia Historic District in Columbia covers a large part of the town, listed in 1983.
The Ephrata Commercial Historic District in Ephrata includes many historic shops and buildings, listed in 2006.
The Lititz Moravian Historic District in Lititz is a special area that shows the history of the Moravian community there. It was listed in 1986.
The Marietta Historic District in Marietta covers a large part of the town, listed in 1978.
The Manheim Borough Historic District in Manheim covers a historic part of the borough, listed in 2000.
The Strasburg Historic District in Strasburg includes many historic buildings in the town, listed in 1983.

Archaeological Sites

Some listings are not buildings at all, but archaeological sites where scientists have found clues about ancient people who lived in the area.

Big and Little Indian Rock Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings found in the Susquehanna River near Safe Harbor, listed in 1978.
Conestoga Town in Manor Township is an important site related to the Conestoga people, listed in 1973.
Duncan Island (36LA60,61) is an island in the Susquehanna River with archaeological importance, listed in 1984.
The Frey-Haverstick Site (36LA6) near Washington Boro is another archaeological site, listed in 1986.
The Murry Site in Manor Township is an archaeological site, listed in 1980.
The Roberts Farm Site (36LA1) in Manor Township is another important archaeological site, listed in 1986.
The Shenks Ferry Site (36LA2) in Martic Township is an archaeological site, listed in 1982.
The Shultz-Funk Site (36LA7 and 36LA9) near Washington Boro is an archaeological site, listed in 1982.
The Strickler Site in Manor Township is another archaeological site, listed in 1973.

Railroad History

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg Township is home to many historic trains and cars that are on the National Register.

Combination Baggage and Mail Car No. 5403 (1979)
Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 1187 (1979)
Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 2846 (1979)
Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 7688 (1979)
Cumberland Valley Car (1979)
DDI Electric Locomotive No. 36 (1979)
Flat Car No. 473567 (1979)
Freight Locomotive No. 5741 (1979)
Locomotive No. 6755 (1979)
Mikado Freight Locomotive No. 520 (1979)
Passenger and Baggage Car No. 4639 (1979)
Passenger Coach No. 3556 (1979)
Passenger Day Coach No. 8177 (1979)
Passenger Locomotive No. 1223 (1979)
Passenger Locomotive No. 1737 (1979)
Passenger Locomotive No. 460 (1979)
Passenger Locomotive No. 7002 (1979)
Steel Hopper Car No. 33164 (1979)
Steel Passenger Coach No. 1650 (1979)
Steel Passenger Coach No. 1651 (1979)
Switcher No. 1670 (1979)
Switcher No. 94 (1979)
Wooden Baggage Express No. 6 (1979)
Wooden Express Baggage No. 6076 (1979)
Wooden Hopper Gondola No. 1818 (1979)

Other Notable Sites

The Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata is a very special historic site. It was a religious community founded in the 1700s and is now a National Historic Landmark. It was listed in 1967.
The Robert Fulton Birthplace in Fulton Township is where Robert Fulton, who invented the first successful steamboat, was born. It's a National Historic Landmark and was listed in 1966.
The Old Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge in Columbia is a historic bridge over the Susquehanna River, listed in 1988. It connects Lancaster County to York County.
The Julius Sturgis Pretzel House in Lititz is the first commercial pretzel bakery in America! It was listed in 1974.

Former Listings

Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if it's destroyed or if its historical importance changes.

Jackson's Mill Covered Bridge near Kirkwood was once listed in 1980 but was removed in 1986.
Risser's Mill Covered Bridge near Manheim was listed in 1980 but was sadly destroyed by arson in 2002 and removed from the list in 2003.

Images for kids

Abbeville
Andrews Bridge Historic District
Ashley and Bailey Silk Mill
Bachman and Forry Tobacco Warehouse
Bangor Episcopal Church
Baumgardner's Mill Covered Bridge
Bausman Farmstead
John Berger & Son Company Tobacco Warehouse
Bird-in-Hand Hotel
Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge
Bowmansville Roller Mill
Bridge in West Earl Township
George Brown's Sons Cotton and Woolen Mill
Bucher Thal Historic District
James Buchanan House (Wheatland)
Joseph Bucher House
Buck Hill Farm Covered Bridge
Butcher's Mill Covered Bridge
Byers-Muma House
Caernarvon Presbyterian Church
Cameron Estate
Central Hotel
Chickies Historic District
Colemanville Covered Bridge
Columbia Historic District
Columbia Wagon Works
Combination Baggage and Mail Car No. 5403
Conestoga Town
Congregational Store
Connell Mansion
Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 1187
Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 2846
Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 7688
Cumberland Valley Car
Edward Davies House
David Davis Farm
DDI Electric Locomotive No. 36
Michael Dohner Farmhouse
Donegal Mills Plantation
Donegal Presbyterian Church Complex
John Douglass House
Eby Shoe Corporation
Ephrata Cloister
Ephrata Commercial Historic District
Erb's Covered Bridge
Ann Cunningham Evans House
Flat Car No. 473567
Forry's Mill Covered Bridge
Freight Locomotive No. 5741
Frey-Haverstick Site (36LA6)
Robert Fulton Birthplace
Furnace Hills Tenant House
John B. Good House
Grove Mansion
Christian Habeck Farm
Hammer Creek Bridge
Gen. Edward Hand House
Johannes Harnish Farmstead
Christian and Emma Herr Farm
Hans Herr House
Herr's Mill Covered Bridge
Hibshman Farm
Kagerise Store and House
Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge
Keller's Covered Bridge
Jacob Keller Farm
Kirks Mills Historic District
Kreider Shoe Manufacturing Company
Lancaster City Historic District
Lancaster County House of Employment
Landis Mill Covered Bridge
Landis Valley Museum
Leaman Place Covered Bridge
Lime Valley Covered Bridge
Linden House
Lititz Moravian Historic District
Locomotive No. 6755
Locust Grove
Manheim Borough Historic District
Manor Street Elementary School
Marietta Historic District
Mascot Roller Mills
Mentzer Building
Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge
Mikado Freight Locomotive No. 520
Mount Hope Estate
Mountain Springs Hotel
Samuel N. Mumma Tobacco Warehouse
Murry Site
Neff's Mill Covered Bridge
New Holland Machine Company
Nissly Swiss Chocolate Company
Northeast Lancaster Township Historic District
Old Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge
Oregon Mill Complex
Park Site 36La96
Passenger and Baggage Car No. 4639
Passenger Coach No. 3556
Passenger Day Coach No. 8177
Passenger Locomotive No. 1223
Passenger Locomotive No. 1737
Passenger Locomotive No. 460
Passenger Locomotive No. 7002
Pine Grove Covered Bridge
Pinetown Covered Bridge
Pool Forge Covered Bridge
Poole Forge
Red Run Covered Bridge
Reinholds Station Trinity Chapel
Peter and Catherine Reyer Farmhouse
Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge
Shearer's Covered Bridge
Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge
Shultz-Funk Site (36LA7 and 36LA9)
Shreiner Farm
Speedwell Forge
Spring Grove Forge Mansion
Christian Stauffer House
Steel Hopper Car No. 33164
Steel Passenger Coach No. 1650
Steel Passenger Coach No. 1651
Stiegel-Coleman House
Stehli Silk Mill
John Casper Stoever Log House
Strasburg Historic District
Strickler Site
Julius Sturgis Pretzel House
Johann Agust Sutter House
Switcher No. 1670
Switcher No. 94
Totten House
Henry Walter House
Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge
Henry Weaver Farmstead
Weber-Weaver Farm
William Werner House
White Chimneys
White Rock Forge Covered Bridge
Windom Mill Farm
Windsor Forge Mansion
Witmer's Tavern
Wooden Baggage Express No. 6
Wooden Express Baggage No. 6076
Wooden Hopper Gondola No. 1818
Wright's Ferry Mansion
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge
Jackson's Mill Covered Bridge (former listing)
Risser's Mill Covered Bridge (former listing)

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.