History Museums
East of the city.



For this group of four history-oriented attractions, head east of the city. The nearest one is Rock Ford Plantation. Edward Hand joined the Continental Army in July 1775 as a Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Battalion of Pennsylvania Riflemen. He led troops at Boston, Long Island, White Plains and Trenton, and became George Washington's Adjutant General in 1781. After the end of the Revolutionary War he came back to Lancaster and entered politics, serving in the Pennsylvania State General Assembly and U.S. Congress. He purchased farm land (i.e. plantation)in 1785 and built the Georgian style brick mansion in 1792. His four story home is exceptionally well preserved and is an excellent example of mansions of the period. It is believed that Washington visited him there on Independence Day in 1791.


Your next stop on the trail of history-oriented sites lies a little further east of the city on Route 30E. It's the Mennonite Information Center. It is an excellent source of information about the Mennonites and Amish, including: a three-screen slide show titled "Who Are the Amish?" and a movie about Mennonite history called "Postcards from a Heritage of Faith". In addition the Center can schedule tours of Amish Country and make reservations for lodging in Mennonite guest homes.





Do you like trains? They continue farther east of the city and a bit to the south to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, located in Strasburg. Their brochure says it better than I could. "Experience the awe-inspiring power of trains! Take the throttle on a simulated run in a real freight locomotive, sit in an engineer's seat, climb aboard a caboose, explore an early 20th century passenger station, and inspect a 62-ton locomotive from underneath! Here at the (museum) you'll discover the colorful and dynamic heritage and technology of railroading, the industry that built our nation. From classic woodburners and massive steam to sleek, electric-powered and diesel engines, you'll find more than 100 historic locomotives and vintage railroad cars preserved in our world-class collection. Vibrant railroad art, an interactive education center, fascinating exhibits, and a remarkable array of railroad artifacts also tell the stories of the men and women who worked on this transportation network that spanned a continent." Wow! Sounds great and it is. In addition, across the street you can take a 45-minute ride on the Strasburg Railroad, visit the huge collection at the National Toy Train Museum, and much more.


The next attraction, Mascot Roller Mills , is trickier to get to, but I've provided directions elsewhere; specifically under the heading "The Amish" and its sub- heading "An Amish Day Trip". We haven't been in the family home, but the mill is fascinating.

Built in the 1730's the mill has been enlarged and updated over the years. Now, instead of the typical large millstone you may have seen before in Amish country or elsewhere, the system in use is very different. It's..., no, you'll have to see it for yourself since it's tough to explain it here. The mill still works on a limited basis for free tours and you can watch while corn and wheat are ground. The building also houses the post office for the settlement of Mascot, a name with a story of its own. There is a nice little park on the other side of Newport Road if the kids need a day trip break and would like to play alongside the stream.






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