432 West Walnit Street
Allentown, PA 18102
(610) 435-1074 (groups ext. 15)
Internet: www.lchs.museum
Lehigh Valley Heritage Center
432 West Walnit Street
Allentown, PA 18102
(610) 435-1074 (groups ext. 15)
Internet: www.lchs.museum
Now enjoying its beautiful new home adjacent to stately Trout Hall, The Lehigh County heritage Center presents permanent and changing exhibits on Lehigh County history and houses the library, archives and offices of the Lehigh County Historical Society, which has been serving its communities for more than ninety years.
Here visitors can explore artifacts and photographs that illustrate Lehigh County: her natural history, the rural life of early Pennsylvania German settlers, and the developments that made Lehigh County a birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Add the wonderful historic sites that are the charge of the Historical Society and visitors can begin to get a sense not only of the evolution of a county and state, but of the nation as well.
The Society also offers a number of special events throughout the year at its various sites. A calendar can be obtained by calling or by visiting the official website above..
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm.
Admission: Adults $5.00, Children $3.00, Members FREE.
Lehigh & Poplar Sts.
Catasauqua
George Taylor arrived in America from the British Isles
as an indentured servant. He married well and made a fortune
as an ironmaster. In 1768 he demonstrated his wealth by
building a beautiful Georgian House. Later, he would sign the
Declaration of Independence.
Today visitors can enjoy a
Guided Tour of this home and its period
furnishings.
Hours: June - October, Weekends only,
1 - 4pm.
Admission: Adults $3.00, children and members FREE.
414 Walnut Street.
Allentown
This stately home was built in 1770 for James Allen, son
of the founder of Allentown. Meant as a summer home, Trout
Hall became a year-round retreat during the Revolutionary
War. Today it stands as Allentown's oldest surviving home.
Visitors can tour the house and see life as it was in the
18th century.
Hours: June - October, Tuesday - Sunday 1 - 4; April - May & Sept. - Nov, Saturday & Sunday 1 - 4.
Admission: Adults $2.00, children and members FREE.
4229 Reliance St.
Egypt
This 1756 farmstead was built by Peter Troxell. Later,
four generations of Steckels lived in the traditional
Germanic house, changing the furnishings and ushering in the
technologies of the 1800s.
Visitors can tour the house, as
well as the barn, with its exhibits of farm
tools.
Hours: June - October, Weekends only, 1 -
4pm.
Admission: Adults $2.00, children and members FREE.
Haines Mill & Dorney Park Rd.
Cetronia
This water-driven gristmill was built before the
Revolution. After being gutted by fire in 1908 the interior
was rebuilt and the mill remained in service until 1956.
Visitors can see how grain was ground in those grand old
days.
Hours: May - September, Weekends only, 1 -
4pm.
Admission: FREE.
2917 Rt. 100
Claussville
This Pennsylvania German schoolhouse was built in 1893
and was used until 1956. Furnished for the period, the school
includes a belltower and a functioning
outhouse.
Hours: May - September, Weekends only, 1
- 4.
Admission: Adults $2.00, children and members FREE.
525 Franklin St.
Alburtis
This was the 1868 home of the Thomas Iron Company.
Visitors can experience the fascinating history of this
important industry that turned Alburtis into a
boomtown.
Hours: May - September., Weekends only, 1
- 4.
Admission: FREE.
245 N. Second St.
Coplay
This is the nation's only site devoted to the people and processes that made "liquid rock." The huge kilns of David Saylor's cement factory drew many early settlers to Lehigh County.
Hours: Outdoor park open daily, year-round.
Admission: FREE.
Groups can enjoy a Guided Tour of any one or all of the above sites. School Groups (grade 3 and up, unless noted) can enjoy Thematic Focus Tours or Site Sampler Tours.
Thematic Tours include Colonial Ethnicity in Lehigh County, an in-depth study of local ethnic groups that explores the lives of the Lenape Indians, the Allens, and the Troxells. Revolutionary War in Lehigh County (grade 5 and up) explores the lives of two patriot families and one loyalist family to gain insight into the Revolution and its effect on people and issues. Farm and Factory illustrates the effects of the Industrial Revolution on farm families and industrial workers. Rural Childhood uses role-playing to explore the lives of children in the early 20th century. Thematic Tours each visit two or three separate sites and take from 3½ to 4½ hours, including lunch and travel time between sites.
Site Sampler Tours take students on a Guided Tour of a selected site. The tours are interactive, some including equipment demonstrations. Most take an hour.
The following applies to all sites unless noted differently above
Hours: Groups may be able to arrange a tour during hours other than stated. Please call.
Group Reservations: 4 weeks.
Lunch: Nearby restaurants. Groups can eat a bagged lunch on site.
Handicapped: All sites accessible. Please call ahead.
Directions: Please call the Historical Society for directions to the sites of your choice, or visit the official website.
Time: 60 - 90 minutes northwest of Philadelphia.
Nearby: Liberty Bell Shrine , Museum of Indian Culture , Pool Wildlife Sanctuary , Moravian Museum of Bethlehem , Lost River Caverns .