Agency Details:

Hans Herr House & Museum

The 1719 Hans Herr House & Museum exists to educate through the portrayal and preservation of the Swiss German Mennonite settlers' culture of Lancaster County from 1710 through 1940, and to promote to families, local congregations and the broader community the value of history education, Anabaptist beliefs and cultural heritage in order to instill an understanding of local history that will encourage future participation and success.

Description:
The 1719 Hans Herr House & Museum features the oldest house in Lancaster county and the oldest Mennonite Meetinghouse in the Western Hemisphere. As a living history museum, the Museum features the 1719 Hans Herr House, blacksmith shop, bake oven, smokehouse, agricultural implement building and an exhibit hall of material culture artifacts depicting daily life in colonial America.
We have three Special Events each year: August, October and December. We celebrate the cultural heritage of the first settlers on Lancaster county in August by celebrating farming heritage and practices, in October we celebrate the apple and it's importance to the early settlers and in December we tour the 1719 House by candlelight and celebrate the birth of Christ.
We enrich local school history curriculum through guided tours of the house and covered wagon rides. During our four Frolicks each year, we invite elementary, middle and high schools to the Herr House to experience colonial America through hands on activities and by learning from master craftsmen who demonstrate various skill typical to early American life.
We rely on volunteers to help with demonstrations, guiding and grounds and maintenance work. We are eager to train willing volunteers.

History:
Purchased by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society in 1969 and opened to the public on 1974, the Hans Herr House has been faithfully educating the public about local colonial American history through guided tours, Special Events, school field trips and Frolicks.

Contact people:

Becky Gochnauer, Director, (phone), (email) Donnalee Mylin, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email) Linda Harnish, Gift Shop Manager, (phone), (email)

Address:

1849 Hans Herr Drive Willow Street, PA 17584 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.hansherr.org

Directions:

Turn onto Hans Herr Drive of Route 222 south, near Willow Valley Resort.

Last updated on July 21, 2009