8 Best Sights in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Pennsylvania

A registered historic landmark, the Hans Herr House is the oldest surviving homestead in Lancaster County and the oldest original (and remaining) Mennonite meeting house in the Western Hemisphere.

The subject of several paintings by Andrew Wyeth, it was the Colonial home of the Herr family, to whom the Wyeths were related. Today the house is owned by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, which educates the public about the Mennonite religion. The 45-minute tour covers the grounds and the 1719 Mennonite meeting place. A separate 45-minute tour covers a reconstructed Native American longhouse.

At this designated Lancaster County heritage site, take a guided tour of a replica nine-room Old Order Amish house, and attached one-room schoolhouse. Located on the Plain & Fancy Farm property, you'll learn about Amish culture, clothing, and day-to-day life.

The Super-Saver Tour Package ($47.95) includes a 90-minute mini-shuttle tour; a guided tour of the homestead; and a ticket to see the film Jacob's Choice.

The David Wills House is where Abraham Lincoln stayed and completed his Gettysburg Address on November 18, 1863. The restored building features seven galleries, including the bedroom where Lincoln slept and worked on the final versions of his speech, as well as the office of Wills, a prominent lawyer who helped direct the city's cleanup after the battle and was a leading force behind the creation of the national cemetery.

The country-estate residence of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who bought it in 1950, he and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower used it as a weekend retreat and a meeting place for world leaders. From 1961 until the president's death in 1969, it was the couple's full-time residence. The brick-and-stone farmhouse is preserved in 1950s style. The farm adjoins the battlefield and is administered by the National Park Service, which sells daily ticketed tours by way of shuttle bus on a first-come, first-served basis at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.

Set on 33 acres, the Historic Rock Ford Plantation is the restored homestead of General Edward Hand, a Revolutionary War commander, George Washington's confidant, and wealthy landowner. Period antiques and folk art are displayed in the 1794 Georgian-style mansion, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. In partnering with the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania, Historic Rock Ford’s programs include the legacy and stories of the slaves who lived and worked on Hand’s farm and in the household.

The Shriver House was the home of George and Henrietta Shriver and their two children, and reveals what civilian life was like during the Civil War. After George joined the Union troops and his family fled to safety, the home was taken over by Confederate sharpshooters, two of whom were killed in the attic during the battle. Costumed guides give tours and share fascinating tales. A gift shop is on site.

Wheatland was the home of James Buchanan, the only U.S. president from Pennsylvania, who served from 1857 to 1861. A National Historic Landmark, the restored 1828 Federal-style mansion and outbuildings display the 15th president's furniture just as it was during his lifetime. A one-hour tour includes a profile of the only bachelor to occupy the White House, a movie, and access to historical artifacts and the arboretum on the grounds. There are holiday candlelight tours with costumed guides.

Located just a few blocks from the waterfront, Wright's Ferry Mansion was the residence of English Quaker Susanna Wright, a silkworm breeder and intellectual who counted Benjamin Franklin among her friends. The 1738 stone house showcases period furniture in the William & Mary and Queen Anne styles as well as an extensive collection of English needlework, textiles, ceramics, and glass, all predating 1750.