PA Museums

Landis Valley Museum | Celebrating PA’s Rich German Heritage

A collage of four images showcasing various scenes from the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The top left photo displays a historic red brick house with a white picket fence. The top right photo features a woman in traditional attire cooking in a colonial fireplace kitchen. The bottom left image shows an exhibit of antique farming equipment and machinery. The bottom right image captures a rustic wooden log cabin beside a fenced-in garden with thriving plants. Each scene reflects the museum's dedication to preserving Pennsylvania's rural German heritage.

If you’re looking for information about visiting the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, you’re in the right place!

A serene view of the Landis Valley Museum's living history village in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The picture showcases a tree-lined dirt path leading to historic buildings, including a red structure with a porch on the left and a larger white house with green shutters on the right. — The museum is spread out over 100 acres in Lancaster County.

The Landis Valley Museum is a sprawling living history museum in the heart of Lancaster County, dedicated to interpreting and preserving three centuries of Pennsylvania German heritage.

An informative display on 'Barn Raisings' at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The exhibit highlights the communal tradition of barn raising among the Amish and Mennonites, emphasizing their values of mutual aid and community service over wealth or fame. — Pennsylvania German traditions like barn raisings are carried on to this day by the state’s Amish and Mennonite communities.

The site consists of 100 acres of land and more than 50 structures, preserving and exhibiting over 100,000 historic objects.

An exhibit showcasing a collection of historical furniture and household items at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The view through the glass pane reveals various antique pieces such as wooden cabinets, dressers, a lantern, glassware, and other artifacts arranged on shelves. — Some of more than 100,000 historic objects preserved at the museum.

In fact, the museum boasts the largest collection of 18th and 19th century Pennsylvania German artifacts in the United States.

A large, antique covered wagon with a weathered canvas cover is on display at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The blue-painted wooden wagon has large spoked wheels and is surrounded by various other historical farm equipment. — Covered wagon at the museum.

But the Landis Valley Museum is more than a collection of artifacts; it is a carefully reconstructed village composed of both original buildings and historical replicas, where history is brought to life.

Inside a historic tavern at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a woman in traditional early American attire is preparing food at a wooden table. The rustic kitchen features a large open hearth with a roaring fire, cast iron pots, and hanging utensils. Around the room are various colonial cooking implements, baskets, dried herbs, and a stone wall. The scene offers a glimpse into culinary practices of the past. — Cooking demonstration in the tavern.

For anyone looking for an engaging and tangible experience of Pennsylvania’s German heritage, the Landis Valley Museum makes for an excellent daytrip destination.

A quaint red blacksmith shop with the sign 'J. W. EPLEY SHOEING AND BLACKSMITHING' under the shade of green leafy trees. — Blacksmith shop at the museum.

Lancaster Valley Museum | Hours and Directions

The Landis Valley Museum is located at 2451 Kissel Hl Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601.

Hours

The museum is open Wednesday – Saturday from 9am – 4pm, Sunday from noon – 4pm, and closed on Monday – Tuesday and major holidays.

A streetscape at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, depicting a series of historic buildings. On the left is a two-story red house with a covered front porch and white trim around the windows. In the center is a brown log cabin, and on the right is a large white barn with red trim and a covered walkway. The scene is set on a grassy area with a gravel path leading through it, and trees in the background under a clear blue sky. — The original village crossroads, now part of the museum grounds.

Admission Fees

Admission fees are as follows: Adults: $12.00, Seniors (65 and up) and AAA rate $10.00, Youth (ages 3-11) $8.00, Ages 2 & under Free.

A richly decorated parlor room at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, showcasing a late 19th-century Victorian interior. The room features dark green and burgundy striped wallpaper with matching fabric valances and drapes. Antique furniture includes a rocking chair, a round table with a lace tablecloth, and an ornate pump organ against the wall. Vintage decorations and a framed landscape painting enhance the historic ambiance. — 20th century parlor exhibit.

To confirm any/all of the information above, please visit the Landis Valley Museum’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

A craftsman in period attire working intently on leather goods at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The scene is set in a rustic workshop with tools and materials neatly arranged. The artisan, wearing a traditional cap and glasses, is seated on a stool, focused on stitching a leather piece. Various leather products and shoes are displayed on the workbench, showcasing the craft of leatherworking. — Leather working demonstration.

What You’ll See at the Museum

Begin your trip back through time at the Visitor Center, where you’ll pay your admission fee and pick up a map of the grounds.

The Visitor Center at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a two-story brick building with white trim and a distinctive cupola on top. An American flag flies proudly in front of the building, set against a backdrop of lush green trees and a clear blue sky. The center's sign is visible above the entrance, welcoming visitors. The setting is tranquil and inviting, with a grassy lawn and a picket fence. — Visitor Center.

A short film in the Visitor Center’s theater gives you an overview of who the Pennsylvania Germans were and how the museum came to be.

Auditorium inside the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with rows of chairs facing a large screen displaying the title 'Landis Valley Pennsylvania German Heritage 1750-1940.' — Introductory film at the Landis Valley Museum Visitor Center.

In the film you’ll learn about the museum’s founders, George and Henry Landis, and how they turned their passion for collecting objects from their own PA German heritage into the beginnings of the museum you see today.

A photograph of George and Henry Landis, founders of the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, depicted in a sepia-toned portrait. Both gentlemen are wearing wide-brimmed hats and period attire, reflecting their historical significance. — George and Henry Landis, pictured on a souvenir magnet from the museum.

There is a also a small exhibition area in the Visitor Center highlighting some of the PA German folk art and traditions, but the much larger exhibition halls are located elsewhere on the museum grounds.

Exhibition on 'Barn Stars' at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, explaining the significance of geometric star designs on traditional barns. — Barn Star exhibit in the Visitor Center.

From the Visitor Center, unless you’re on a guided tour, you’re free to roam the grounds of the museum and explore the reconstructed village, farms, and exhibit halls at your own pace.

A well-preserved log house kitchen inside the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, featuring historic cooking utensils hanging beside a large hearth. A rustic wooden table with a red tabletop is set with ceramic jugs and a basket, and a wooden hutch displays a collection of earthenware pottery. — Interior of a 1700s log home at the museum.

Being of Pennsylvania German descent myself, I spent the better part of a day here taking in all the exhibits and talking to the reenactors working that day.

An elderly woman, focused on her craft, sits at a traditional broom-making workstation at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She wears a blue knitted shawl over a period-appropriate dress and apron, and her hair is pulled back. In her hands, she is binding broomcorn straws to create a broom. — Broom-making demonstration.

But even for those with just a casual interest in PA German folk art or history, I’d allow at least 2-3 hours to make your way through the grounds and exhibit halls.

A detailed display of vintage products on wooden shelves at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, resembling an old-time general store. The shelves are filled with an assortment of antique items, including tobacco tins, ceramic bowls, wooden boxes with product labels, glass medicine bottles, and various packaged goods from bygone days. — Shelf in the general store at the Landis Valley Museum.

As you walk the museum grounds, you’ll see how different buildings with similar purposes evolved over time.

A traditional two-story brick farmhouse with white shutters and a stone foundation is pictured at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In the background, a white wooden barn with a gambrel roof complements the rustic scene. The property is enclosed by a charming white picket fence, and lush green trees and grass surround the buildings. — 1800s farmstead at the museum.

For example, on one part of the grounds you’ll find the 1700s log farmstead.

A rustic scene from the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, showcasing a traditional log house with a stone chimney next to a split-rail fence enclosing a flourishing garden. Another log structure is visible in the background. The garden is brimming with a variety of plants and vegetables, indicating a historic approach to gardening. — 1700s log farmstead at the museum.

While a short walk away you’ll see how this evolved in to the 1800s brick and stone farmstead.

A traditional white Pennsylvania bank barn with a stone foundation at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The barn is set against a backdrop of lush green trees and a clear blue sky. — 1800s “bank barn” exhibit.

The Farm Machinery and Tool exhibit showcases thousands of tools and examples of agricultural machines, highlighting the Pennsylvania German contributions to agriculture.

An exhibit within the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, displaying a collection of antique agricultural machinery, including a large steam tractor with metal wheels. The spacious room has exposed wooden beams and is well-lit, highlighting the historical farming equipment of various sizes and functions, some of which are painted in red. — Farm Machinery and Tool exhibit.

While the Landis Collections Gallery exhibits and stores one of the largest collections of Pennsylvania German decorative arts in the nation.

Antique painted wooden rocking horse displayed at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The horse, featuring a dark base color with blue and purple painted embellishments, is equipped with a leather saddle and reins. — Wooden horse in the Landis Collections Gallery.

Because they have so many artifacts in the collection, those items are showcased to the public on a rotating basis.

A display of Civil War-era firearms behind glass at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The exhibit includes rifles and handguns mounted on stands, each piece accompanied by informational placards detailing its history and use. — Civil War-era firearms on display in the Landis Collections Gallery.

The Maple Grove School at the museum was built near Leola in 1890, served grades one through eight until the early 1900s, was moved to the museum in 1970.

A quaint, historic one-room schoolhouse at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The building features white clapboard siding, black shutters, a front porch with steps, and a distinctive bell tower with a weathervane atop. The schoolhouse is set against a backdrop of bright green trees and a clear blue sky, with a grassy lawn in the foreground. — Maple Grove one-room school.

Today it has been restored to represent a typical country school circa 1900.

Interior view of a historic one-room schoolroom at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The room is lined with black chalkboards filled with writing, and rows of antique wooden desks with wrought iron legs. A large black cast iron stove sits in the center, with a stovepipe extending to the ceiling. The room is illuminated by natural light from tall windows and a hanging pendant lamp. The floor is made of hardwood planks. — Interior of the Maple Grove Schoolhouse.

As you tour the buildings, meet the costumed interpreters, and learn about traditional Pennsylvania German crafts and skills, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the ethnic group that made up 40% of the southeastern Pennsylvania’s population by 1790.

The Landis Brothers' original museum building at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, set on a lush green lawn. This historic structure features white clapboard siding with contrasting dark shutters, a covered front porch, and intricate Victorian trim details. — The Landis Brothers’ House.

Wrap up your visit at the Landis Valley Museum Store, where you’ll find a variety of pottery, wood, fiber arts, metal arts, jewelry, cards, books, and artwork by local artisans and craftspeople.

The Landis Valley Museum Store.

Final Thoughts

The Landis Valley Museum is a living history museum that offers visitors a glimpse into the lives of Pennsylvania Germans from 1740 to 1940.

A sunny pastoral scene at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, featuring a red brick two-story house with white shutters and a split-rail wooden fence in the foreground. The house is part of a larger historic farmstead which includes a large white barn and additional outbuildings surrounded by lush green trees. — Beautiful split rail fence on te 1800s farmstead.

Whether you’re interested in learning about traditional crafts, exploring historic buildings, or simply looking for a fun place to spend a day with family and friends in Lancaster County, Landis Valley Museum has something to offer everyone!

Inside the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, an ornate wooden hotel bar from a bygone era is displayed. The bar is adorned with antique glass bottles, an old-fashioned telephone, a vintage cash register, and a classic wall mirror reflecting the room's historic charm. — Bar at the Landis Valley House Hotel, built in the 1800s.

Old Bedford Village in Bedford County is a living history museum that gives you a glimpse into what life was like in western Pennsylvania from 1700 until 1899.

Visiting Old Bedford Village in Bedford County Pennsylvania. — Old Bedford Village.

Rather than viewing old photos and dusty relics, visitors learn by seeing reenactors demonstrating activities that would have been common in Bedford County from colonial times up through the Civil War.

Blacksmithing demonstration at Old Bedford Village.

The Mifflinburg Christkindl Market is billed as “the oldest authentic outdoor German Christmas market in the United States”.

Exploring the Mifflinburg Christkindl Market in Union County Pennsylvania. — Scenes from Mifflinburg Christkindl Market.

This vibrant 3-day celebration of the Christmas season features authentic German food and drinks, live performances, and more than 100 arts and crafts vendors set up in outdoor huts in the heart of Mifflinburg.

Young girl standing in front of a large Christmas pyramid adorned with figurines and candles, with a rotating windmill top, surrounded by visitors at the Mifflinburg Christkindl Market under a blue sky. — The Christmas Pyramid, a German tradition.

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