GROUP TOUR ITINERARIES

PA Dutch Hex Tour

Enjoy a trip through northern Berks County, which takes you through fertile countryside where 100 year-old German bank barns are decorated with unique folk art designs and hex signs. Discover the geological splendor of famous Crystal Cave. Then, continuing in the spirit of PA Dutch culture, feast at Haag’s Hotel and Restaurant, where a hearty fare is sure to please.

While in Shartlesville, don’t miss Roadside America–the largest indoor miniature village you’ve ever seen! We recommend you start this drive around 9:00 am, as it will take you much of the day to enjoy all the attractions along the way.

Other stops:
Berks County Heritage Center
Bower’s Chile Pepper Food Festival
Kutztown Festival

 

Berks County Heritage Tour

Let our distelfink by your guide in an exploration of Berks County's rich cultural heritage. A project made possible through a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation.

Welcome to Berks County Pennsylvania. This is your guide to our rich heritage. Use it to chart your trip back more than 250 years through our storied history.

Berks County has always been a place of innovation and ingenuity, reflected in our industrial heritage. Explore the museums dedicated not only to the machine, but also to the skilled men and women who built and operated them.

Learn about our people. Berks County heritage features a blending of many cultures from the Europeans who settled the Oley Valley in colonial times to today's new immigrants. All made Berks County their home and influenced its development.

Along the way you'll hear some familiar names, names like Daniel Boone, the frontiersman, whose family comes from Berks County, alongside some not too familiar names like Weiser and Duryea.

Find out how Berks County products and Berks County personalities helped foster the westward expansion and helped win wars. Berks County truly did influence the nation.

To make your trip to our past easier and more rewarding we've divided the heritage features into attractions, resources and events are open to the public with regular hours and provide some type of interpretation and visitor amenities.

Resources are place to explore your own ties to Berks County's history, places like archives, historical societies, and libraries.

Events bring our history to life. Each category is designated by a brightly colored banner on display at the sites, resources or events listed in this brochure. Look for them throughout the county. They're your assurance that you'll be experiencing Authentic Berks County Heritage.

As you discover our heritage you're bound to discover something about your own. Enjoy the journey!

Heritage Sites

Bahr’s Mill
The National Register mill features operational belt-driven 1870’s woodworking machinery and houses the complete 4-story power train. Open Summer weekends 11-4. Bahr’s Mill Preservation Society, Boyertown, PA 19512 610-369-7266
www.user1.netcarrier.com

The Berks County Heritage Center
The Center tells the story of transportation’s key role in Berks County’s history-specifically wagon manufacturing and the Union and Schuylkill Navigation System (canals). Buildings are open for guided tours May 1st through the last Sunday of October, Tues.-Sat. 10-4; Sun. 12-5, and are open summer holidays. 2201 Tulpehocken Rd. Wyomissing, PA 19610 610-374-8839
www.berksmuseums.org/heritage/index.htm

The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles
Boyertown represents the key role another mode of transportation played in Berks County’s history-the evolution of the automobile. Open year round 9:30-4 except Mondays. Admission charged. Groups welcome. 85 S. Walnut Street, Boyertown, PA 19512 610-367-2090
www.boyertownmuseum.org

Central Pennsylvania African American Museum
This museum housed in the Old Bethel A.M.E. Church preserves and maintains a collection of objects, artifacts, papers, books and other documents that describe the history and culture of African Americans, with an emphasis on Reading, Berks and the surrounding counties. Open Saturdays from 1-4. Other hours by appointment. 119 N. 10th Street, Reading, PA 19601 610-371-8713
www.cpafricanamericanmuseum.org

Centre Park Historic District
One of Reading’s first suburbs, it contains 840 properties of Victorian and early 20th Century architecture. Annual events include a Christmas House tour, Garden tour, Arts and Antiques Fair. For more information: PO Box, 13325, Reading, PA 19612 610-375-7860.
www.centrepark.org

Conrad Weiser Homestead
The 18th century Conrad Weiser Homestead contains his residence, springhouse and gravesite, set in a 26-acre park designed by the Olmstead brothers. Grounds and visitor center are free; a fee is charged for a guided tour. Open Wed.-Sat. 9-5, Sun. 12-5. Closed holidays except Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. 28 Weiser Rd., Womelsdorf, PA 19567 610-589-2934 Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
www.conradweiserhomestead.org

Daniel Boone Homestead
This homestead, settled in 1730 by Boone’s parents, interprets not only the early life of the Boones, but also the saga of the regions’ settlers by comparing and contrasting the lifestyles of different cultures in eighteenth-century rural Pennsylvania. Open Tues.-Sat. 9-5, Sun. 12-5. Admission charged. 400 Daniel Boone Rd., Birdsboro, PA 19508 610-582-4900 Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
www.danielboonehomestead.org

Historical Society of Berks County
The Historical Society of Berks County presents the history of Berks County from the Lenni Indians to the present. A hands-on history room is open to children. Two galleries feature changing exhibitions. The Museum and library are open Tues.-Sat. 9-4. Admission charged. 940 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19601 610-375-4375
www.berkshistory.org

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is one of the finest examples of an early American “iron plantation”, the forerunner of today’s iron and steel industries. Hopewell Furnace presents living history and self guided walking tours. Open Daily (Call for holiday closings) 9-5. Seasonal living history and special events. 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520 610-582-8773
www.nps.gov/hofu

The Mid Atlantic Air Museum
The Mid Atlantic Air Museum tells the story of aviation by preserving, restoring, and operating historic aircraft. Visitors may also look in on the museum restoration shop and view works in progress. There is an aviation oriented gift shop and picnic facilities are also available. 11 Museum Drive, Reading Regional Airport, Reading, PA 19605 610-372-7333
www.maam.org

Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center
Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center is located in Kutztown. The Center brings history to life in the form of interpretive events held throughout the year including Heritage Harvest Festival. 610-683-1330
www.kutztown.edu/community/pgchc

Reading Company Technical & Historical Society
The Reading Company Technical & Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Reading Railroad and its predecessors. Visit our temporary "working Museum" at 141 Tuckerton Road in Temple. The Temple Station is open Saturdays & Sundays between Memorial Day & Labor Day from 12 - 5 PM. For information on hours and tour reservations, call 610-929-9902. P.O. Box 15143, Reading, PA 19612-5143
www.readingrailroad.org

The Reading Public Museum
The Reading Public Museum, established in 1904, is home to one of the greatest collections of art and science of any regional museum. Planetarium shows run every Sunday. Open Tues.-Sat. 11-5, Wed 11-8, Sun. 12-5 Admission. 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA 19611 610-371-5850
www.readingpublicmuseum.org

Heritage Resources

The Berks County Genealogical Society
The Berks County Genealogical Society collects and disseminates data to professional and amateur genealogists and family historians. The library is open Mon.- Fri., 11-4 PM, Sat. 1-5 PM, Sun.12-4 PM. Closed holidays. Located at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601, 610-921-4970
www.berksgenes.org

Heritage Events

Hay Creek Fall Festival/Historic Joanna Furnace
A celebration of early American life, colonial crafts, antique cars and tractors, early American foods. Rt. 10 North, Morgantown. Box 36, Geigertown, PA 19523 610-286-0388
www.haycreek.org

Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival
PA German Folklife festival features demonstrations, folklore, live music, dancing, entertainment on five stages everyday, children’s farmyard theatre, crafts, entertainment and authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. Kutztown Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 306 Kutztown, PA 19530 Call 888-674-6136 for more information.
www.kutztownfestival.com