We enjoyed the tour. Started off with an interesting video. The docent was good and knowledgeable…read more Took so see many interesting spots in and around the home, including a life size version of a wigwam that would have been in the area at the time.

Why is the Hans Herr House significant and who the hell was Hans Herr?…read more The house itself is significant as it is the last remaining structure that is still standing from the original group of Mennonites who came to the Lancaster County area to escape religious persecution from their native Switzerland. The house is also significant in that it is the oldest structure in Lancaster County and likely the oldest remaining Mennonite meetinghouse in the Western Hemisphere. The original group traveled from Switzerland to Germany to escape religious persecution then after a governmental regime change they were forced from Germany to England where they met with William Penn who allowed them to colonize a portion of what is current day Lancaster County or when they arrived in 1711, the extreme most western frontier of Pennsylvania. One interesting piece of information is that the house did not belong to Hans Herr as it was built by his son Christian which is why his initials are over the doorway along with the inscribing mark of 1719. On the tour you are told why the name remained(s) Hans Herr House versus Christian Herr House but honestly I forget why. Maybe something just deferential from Christian towards his father or because of his father's status with the original group that came to the area or maybe everyone just liked the flow of the name more so it's based on tradition? The tour itself is around 40-45 minutes and it starts in the building which houses the gift shop and you are given a brief overview of the Anabaptist faith, the Mennonites who are direct descendants of the faith and a map which shows the route the initial settlers took from Switzerland to Pennsylvania. After that you are taken over to the house where you see the three rooms which make up the first floor (kitchen, bedroom and all purpose dining room-meeting room-family room) and the second floor which is where the eight children slept and finally the basement which is accessed from a side entrance outside of the house. You learn that the key to the home's design is that they didn't believe in wasting any space so every inch served a purpose such as not having hallways so as soon as you walk in the front door you're right in the kitchen. One thing worth noting, if you are someone who is hardcore hung up on only visiting historical places if they have lots of original items then this place might not be for you. There is not a whole lot original to the house that you can see with the exception of a piece of the ceiling insulation on the first floor (rye straw + manure + ??), the wooden crossbeam over the kitchen fireplace and the steps which go from the second floor to the third floor attic (obviously you can't use them). Past that I think most everything else was changed out in the 19th century when the house was still used as a residence or in the early 70's when the initial renovation occurred to make things into a tourist destination. If you want more original take a look at the bibles on display in the gift shop which are original to Hans and Christian. I wouldn't call the Hans Herr House a must see, but it's interesting enough and the tour is the right length to keep everyone interested along with being located close enough to most of Lancaster County's tourist elements. If you go: The 1719 Hans Herr House is open April 1 through November 30, Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Forty-five minute Herr House tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. This is not the tour information for their reproduction Native American Longhouse. That tour is offered at 10 a.m., 12 noon and 2 p.m and has an entirely different focus. Prices are currently Adults: $8, Children 7-12: $4 and Children 6 and under: free with a slight discount if you choose to tour both structures. There are also several special events that happen throughout the year and that information is available on their website.

Super cool landmark…read more As per the plaque: Constructed in 1860, the Gatehouse was designed by the Baltimore firm of Thomas and James M. Dixon. Built in Tudor Revival Style, it provided for two living units, one on each side of the archway. The Gatehouse resembled a Swiss chalet and became a trademark of the Sheppard. The neighborhood children viewed it as the home of Hansel and Gretel. A tenant alwavs lived in the Gatehouse until 2005. The beautiful Rhododendron Drive was historically entered by driving through the Gatehouse. In 2002 the entire Charles Street entrance was reconstructed and cars no longer entered through the Archway.

This was the final date night of the season and so I purchased tickets for this event. The ticket…read morewas just to utilize the garden so that you can bring your own picnic, lawn chairs and or blanket. They do offer a charcuterie board for $25. They state on their site tables are available as first come. I was able to get a table that seated 6! I was somewhat disappointed that for a date night event there were no bistro tables. The table I found was so filthy and the pavers were full of debris. Had I known it was gonna be so dirty I would have brought cleaning supply and swept the area! The ambiance wasn't romantic for this date night as a lady's birthday party celebration was going on a few feet from us. Though the site stated a live musical artist would be present, he was so far off we couldn't hear him. Due to the birthday party celebration it was difficult to hear when he came closer but thank goodness for my playlist on pandora! When I purchased the ticket for the date night it showed a fee of $10 which is what I paid. But when my date arrived, after myself, he was told I had only paid for one ticket. Am I so stupid to have not known that a date night ticket wasn't for a couple?? This was so confusing but thankfully we had a $10 to pay his date night ticket. Sincerely, I wouldn't purchase any tickets to come to another event here. My garden is small but nicer and definitely cleaner tables and walkways. We tried making the best of it and enjoyed the Greek smorgasbord I packed for us.

This venue has exquisite landscaping and gorgeous gardens. The House has a timeless elegance that…read moreis so unique. Our music group: Vivace Live String Quartet performed for their Music on the Lawn series and we enjoyed every minute of the atmosphere! Plus- their staff is a great team to work with: thoughtful, eager to help, and friendly. Can't wait to go back!

I'm leaving in the place for the last twenty four years…read more Obviously I would not stay there for this long time if I wasn't be happy with this place

This is my favorite area in Patapsco state park, I've brought many friends and family here over the…read moreyears. It's beautiful, you can find the ruins of an old mining camp and religious boarding school here. There's even a decent spot to jump off the train tracks into the water below, although take care because the water can be shallow in spots.

The man had TASTE. If you're into furnishings and stuff this is a must see! Tiger striped maple on…read morebalustrades on the stairs. The China, the art!

The tour of Wheatland starts at LancasterHistory; tickets include both the museum and a tour of the…read moreBuchanan home. The tour starts with a short video in the museum, which basically concludes that Buchanan's presidency was a failure. That's not wrong, but it's kind of funny to hear it said so bluntly. We visited Gettysburg the day after and learning about Buchanan does give some background on how we got into the war. The Wheatland estate is impressive - perhaps because it's not as popular it's been able to acquire many of the furnishing that were there when Buchanan was President. Our guide was fantastic. You can buy tickets in advance online, which is recommended if going during peak season as tours do sell out.

My wife and I had a great time at the ROCK FORD Plantation and Barn Gallery tour. Lots of history…read morethere including the fact that George & Martha Washington were entertained on numerous occasions. The tour includes almost the entire house from the basement kitchen area to the second floor with many historical artifacts, furniture and writings. Many areas of the home and decor were painstakingly restored to original. Bryce, our docent was very informative, fun and very sociable encouraging questions of the family and the mansion. Since my wife and I were lucky enough to be the only guests for the time slot we enjoyed a private, longer than usual tour. Highly recommend a visit!

Rock Ford Plantation was the home built by General Edward Hand, a general in the U.S. Continental…read moreArmy. Gen. Hand was a close friend of George Washington and second president John Adams. The house features letters from both the first and second president. We went on a weekend when there was a Continental Army encampment and enjoyed the outdoor demonstrations and the gardens. The house itself is very enjoyable. However, I'm taking off a star because a very bossy large woman rudely announced at the top of her lungs that I was "Not allowed to take pictures all willy-nilly throughout the house." 1. She could have asked me more nicely and in a private manner. 2. No where in the house or on the porch or at the ticket table was I told not to take pictures. 3. A simple sign of "no pictures" on the back porch when you enter the house could have saved me embarrassment and saved the bossy large woman some hot air. A nice man in period dress apologized for the bossy large woman after she sailed away with her petticoats all aflutter. She soured the entire experience for me. Seriously. Post a sign "No Pictures Please". Don't needlessly embarrass your patrons. If you love history and avoid taking pictures inside the house, you will enjoy a trip to the Rock Ford Plantation.

How sad . . . this place sits, apparently unused/little used and in great disrepair…read more I was here once, when the owner and his "partner" (I don't know if it was business or personal but she was very nice) opened the mansion for a Boiling Springs Civic Association function. It is just lovely. Much of the house's original features have been keep - woodwork, floors, floorplan, etc. The kitchen had been completely remodeled. I did not have a chance to see the upstairs. I hope that the current owner does something with it or sells it to someone who will . . . it is such an icon of the Children's Lake area - it would be a shame to see it become so decayed that there is no choice but to tear it down. I can see it as a fantastic little french restaurant or an art gallery with a funky little cafe. The view of the lake is beautiful.

A forgotten Beauty, I give her 5 stars for what *could* be. I go to 'Bubbletown' several times a…read moremonth, for the beauty & tranquility. And each time, I stop by & say hello to this once magnificent Georgian style home. It was built some where around 1780 by Michael Ege, Sr. a prominent Ironmaster, and was later passed to J.C. Bucher, another Ironmaster until the late 1890's. Perhaps some day it will be returned to it's former glory.

Awesome park Great pokemons…read more Cool place for adults and kids! Has public restrooms with water fountain. The playground equipment is new and has all kinds of neat ways to play!

I have never been to a nicer wedding venue! The staff was great. A golf cart escorted me to…read moreparking. Every time you turned around someone was directing you to the proper place. The inside of the building was great for buffet line and bar. The outdoor tent was good sized. It started to rain and they ran right out with towels and umbrellas to close the tent! The outdoor patio area was beautiful and well lit. The sounds of insects and wild life was wonderful. Grounds are very well kept. Ladybugs and butterflies flew around the guests while we watched the outdoor wedding! I cannot speak to the price, since I was only a guest.

I can't say enough good things about this venue. Our daughter just held her wedding here and all…read moreI'm hearing today, two days later, are texts from the guests saying how lovely it was. You really have control over the space and yet they are there managing all the little things. The historic home was impressive and the grounds amazing. The newer part of the old home was built in 1726 but don't worry, it does have indoor plumbing!