If you’re looking for the best things to see and do in Mifflin County, you’re in the right place!
The county was formed in 1789 and named in honor of Thomas Mifflin, first Governor of Pennsylvania.
The county seat is in Lewistown, once the site of Fort Granville during the French and Indian War.
Famous natives of Mifflin County include the “Father of Pennsylvania Forestry”, Dr. Joseph Rothrock, who was born in McVeytown in 1839.
Approximately 9% of the county’s population is Amish, with the majority of the Amish community living in the “Big Valley” region near Belleville.
From state parks to scenic overlooks to numerous historic sites, here are 10 of the best things to see and do in Mifflin County, PA (plotted as a blue-and-white stars on the map below).
Simply click on the blue text links in the descriptions below to read more in-depth information about each destination.
1. Monument Square in Lewistown
Monument Square in Lewistown is named after the Soldiers and Sailors Monument which sits at the very center of the square.
This Civil War memorial is unique in that its base contains a stone from Abraham Lincoln’s original tomb in Springfield, Illinois.
The Lincoln Stone, as it is known, was sent to Lewistown by rail from Springfield on the condition that it be incorporated into a monument in the town square.
Just off the square you’ll find the Embassy Theatre, which opened in 1927 and closed in 1981.
Across the street from the Embassy Theatre you’ll find a mural paying tribute to the Logan Guards, one of the first volunteer militia groups to answer President Lincoln’s call for troops to protect Washington, D.C. at the outbreak of the Civil War.
2. McCoy House
The McCoy House is a Federal-style house on North Main Street in Lewistown, built in 1841 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The McCoy House in Lewistown was the birthplace of General Frank Ross McCoy, who graduated from West Point and took part in the Spanish-American War, WWI, and WWII.
The McCoy House is also the home of the Mifflin County Historical Society’s collection of county-related historical items.
3. Stone Arch Bridge
The Stone Arch Bridge is a single-span bridge that crosses Jack’s Creek just outside of Lewistown.
The bridge was built in 1813 as part of the Harrisburg to Pittsburgh Turnpike.
It is the oldest bridge of its type in central Pennsylvania, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1979.
Despite the fact that this semielliptical stone bridge was built without a keystone, it has stood for more than 200 years.
4. Victory Park
Victory Park is located along the Juniata River in the Borough of Lewistown.
Victory Park was dedicated to veterans of all America’s wars in 1919 and rededicated in 1996.
The park features a riverside walking trail lined with benches and Zelkova trees.
Fishing is a popular pastime at Victory Park.
A boat launch at the southwestern end of the park provides easy access to the Juniata River.
5. Big Valley Vista
Big Valley Vista is a roadside overlook along the Millheim Pike in Mifflin County.
One of several roadside overlooks in the Bald Eagle State Forest, Big Valley Vista is a particularly great place to view fall foliage in Mifflin County.
6. Big Valley Antique Center
The Big Valley Antique Center features nearly 150 vendors, spread out over 2 floors and 40,000 square feet of shopping space.
In addition to the massive indoor display, Big Valley Antique Center hosts an outdoor flea market on Wednesday mornings spring-fall.
7. The Belleville Flea Market
The Belleville Flea Market (AKA the Belleville Farmers Market) is a Wednesday tradition in Mifflin County!
Featuring a colorful array of permanent buildings and temporary pop-up tents, you can buy just about anything at the Belleville Flea Market, including baked goods, produce, quilts, antiques, tools, housewares, and clothing.
8. Prayer Rock Overlook
Prayer Rock Scenic Overlook is a fantastic roadside vista along Wills Road in Mifflin County, approximately 4 miles southwest of Belleville.
No matter what your religious persuasion, I think just about everyone would agree the views from Prayer Rock are “heavenly”!
9. Reeds Gap State Park
Reeds Gap State Park features 220 acres of wilderness in the New Lancaster Valley of Mifflin County.
The park is home to a beautiful hiking trail that passes along and across the banks of Honey Creek.
In the mid-1800s, the park’s namesakes, Edward and Nancy Reed, set up a water-powered sawmill along Honey Creek; the ruins of a water-storage dam associated with the saw mill are still visible today.
Reeds Gap State Park officially opened in 1938, and it is the only state park in the county.
10. Stone Mountain Hawk Watch
Located in the Rothrock State Forest near the Mifflin-Huntingdon County line, the Stone Mountain Hawk Watch is a scenic overlook with a purpose.
Used by birding enthusiasts to monitor fall hawk migrations, this is also a popular scenic overlook, with stellar views in all directions.
So there you have it – 10 of the best things to see and do in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania!
Nearby Attractions
19 Must-See Attractions in Huntingdon County is your guide to some of the best things to see and do in Mifflin County’s neighbor to the west.
29 Must-See Attractions in Centre County is your guide to the best things to see and do in Mifflin County’s neighbor to the north.
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