Located within the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, the State Museum of Pennsylvania was commissioned by Governor Samuel Pennypacker in 1905 to “…collect, care for, and exhibit the flora, fauna, history, archaeology and fine arts of the Commonwealth.” It was originally housed in the Executive Library and Museum Building beginning in 1907 and moved into its current building in 1964. Today, it offers numerous permanent and rotating exhibits that showcase the history, people, artwork and natural science of Pennsylvania. The museum also houses a planetarium. The current museum building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
Designed by Joseph Miller Huston in a Beaux-Arts style, the Pennsylvania State Capitol was dedicated in 1906. It is the third capitol built in Harrisburg and is home to the state’s House of Representatives, Senate, Supreme and Superior Courts, and offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The four-story, 475-room building features a large, central rotunda and large east and west wings. Thirty-minute guided tours are offered Monday through Friday from 8:30-4:00. The capitol was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006. The grounds and associated buildings that make up the Capitol Complex also achieved NHL status in 2013.
The Harris Switch Tower controlled the route and speed of trains through an interlocking machine from 1930-1991. The small, two-story brick building is located just north of the Harrisburg Station. It was purchased by the Harrisburg branch of the National Railway Historical Society in 1992 and restored to its 1940s status. It now houses one of the few working interlocking machines and model board in the U.S. and visitors are permitted to route and re-route “virtual” trains through pulling the many levers of the machine and viewing their results on the large model board. The Harris Switch Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Comprised of a large, red-brick train and bus station and the associated train sheds, the earliest sections of the Harrisburg Transportation Center (HTC) were built in 1887. It has since undergone numerous expansions and renovations, especially after a devastating fire that totally destroyed its roof and gutted its interior in 1904. Originally built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the HTC is now owned by Amtrak and operated by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority. It is a shared facility that, in addition to train service, offers people access to Greyhound and Fullington bus lines as well as nearby local bus service. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Built in 1912-1913 and located at the corner of Market and Dewberry Streets in downtown Harrisburg, the William Seel Building is a narrow, four-story four bay brownstone and brick building. Over the past century it has been home to a wine and liquor store, shoe store, home for orphan girls, law offices, campaign offices, union headquarters and, currently, student housing. The building underwent extensive renovations in 2015 to convert it into student apartments for the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. It is a wonderful example of early 20th century commercial architecture that is becoming increasingly rare in Harrisburg. The William Seel Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the Kunkle Building (also known as the Feller Building) was completed in 1914 and served as the headquarters for the Mechanics Trust Company for approximately twenty years. It was one of Harrisburg’s earliest high-rise buildings, one of only three built prior to 1920 and the first on Market Street. The building itself is architecturally unique in that most of its exterior is faced with white glazed terra-cotta tiles. It currently serves as student housing for the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology while its first floor is leased for retail and commercial space.
The Salem United Church of Christ has been serving the Harrisburg community since 1822 and its congregation has been present there since the town was formed in the 1780s. It was originally known as the German Reformed Church and has survived for almost 200 years at its present location as Pennsylvania’s capital grew up around it. It served as a temporary hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863 and rose from the ashes caused by an arsonist’s flame in 1890. It was added to the National Regsiter of Historic Places in 1975. Through its charitable works it assists those in need and is still a gathering place every Sunday, open to all.
The current Dauphin County Courthouse, located in the Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg, is the third such building dedicated to meting out justice. It was completed in 1942 and dedicated the next year. The six-story, Georgia marble building is home to the county’s law library, courtrooms, judge chambers, administrative offices, numerous engraved quotes, etched windows, sculptures, and various works of art. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993.
Also known as the “People’s Bridge,” the Walnut Street Bridge connects Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park with City Island which sits in the middle of the Susquehanna River. For most of its existence, the bridge spanned the entire river. This wrought iron thru truss bridge dates back to 1890 and has been a pedestrian-only span since it was damaged during flooding in 1972. In addition, three of the bridge's spans collapsed into the river during severe flooding in early 1996. Despite the flood-related damage, the Walnut Street Bridge is thought to be the oldest existing bridge on the Susquehanna. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and was also recognized as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1998.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This walking tour starts at the state's official museum and the state capitol and then moves south with stops at several other museums along with downtown landmarks and historical markers.
