Englishman, Quaker and explorer, William Penn established Chester County in 1682 as one of the first three counties in Pennsylvania along with Bucks and Delaware counties. West Chester, Chester County's county seat, was originally named "Turk's Head" and had a population of 374 in 1799. Other remarkable towns in Chester County including Kennett Square, Phoenixville, Coatesville and Malvern have their own unique agricultural, revolutionary and industrial histories. Phoenixville and Coatesville boast America's earliest iron and steel forges. Kennett Square paved the way for the mushroom farming business dating back to 1885, and is now considered the Mushroom Capital of the World . Malvern is home to the Paoli Massacre of 1777, just after the Battle of the Brandywine on September 11, 1777, and General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's residence, Waynesborough , is just around the corner in Paoli. Chester County was also one of the first and most important stops on the Underground Railroad for many freed slaves. The warmer months are a perfect time to visit and stroll around historic gristmills like as the Mill at Anselma or historic steel family residences like Graystone Mansion once occupied by the Lukens family.
Berwyn
Veterans Memorial The Berwyn Veterans Memorial, Business Route 30 in Berwyn, is the largest memorial of its kind in Chester County. Visit this memorial to honor our veterans and to cherish our freedom. P.O. Box 5, Kennett Square, PA 19348 Tours:
610-444-6020 Fax: 610-444-9385 Come and walk historic Kennett Squares tree-lined streets and enjoy browsing, dining and shopping in its unique stores and restaurants. Its an easy stroll and theres plenty of convenient parking. Small town charm at its best ! Brandywine
Battlefield Park E-mail Breakfast for Champions The event is held annually in the spring to honor area high school students. Scholarship contributions to the "Front Porch Trust" to above address. Colonial PA Plantation E-mail Delaware Historical Society Downingtown
Historical Society
East
Vincent Historical Commission E-mail 106
W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 Walk historic Kennett Square's tree-lined streets and enjoy browsing, dining and shopping. Enjoy Art Strolls on the first Friday of every month. Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area 204 Church Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460 (610) 935-7646 Preserving the history and heritage of the Phoenixville area, the Society operates a museum, archives and library. Open Wednesday and Friday, 9AM - 3PM. First Sundays, 1 - 4PM, and by appointment. Free admission. 697 Sugartown Road , Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 640-2667 Historic Sugartown is a restored crossroads village dating from the late 18th century providing an exceptional example of a self- sufficient community in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Historic
Yellow Springs Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site 2 Mark Bird Ln., Elverson, PA 19520; (610) 582-8773 Restored iron plantation interpreting the work and lifestyles of early industrial America. Main Street Community Development 204 Bridge St., Phoenixville, PA 19469 (610) 415-1480 Created to develop a comprehensive revitalization strategy that will stimulate economic development within the context of historic preservation in Phoenixville's downtown commercial district.
Paoli
Battlefield Preservation Fund
Rockwood Park Wilmington, DE 19805 Phone: 302-761-4340, Fax: 302-761-4345 Victorian Mansion & public park. Mansion tours 10am-3pm (on the hour) Tuesday - Sunday, Adults $5. Children $2. Butler's Pantry Self-Service Café 8am-3pm Tuesday - Sunday.Walking paths 6am-10pm daily. The
Abraham Fetters-White School Preservation Society The
Kennett Underground Railroad Center The
Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust, Inc.
Valley
Forge National Historical Park West
Chester - Downtown E-mail
2 William
Brinton 1704 House and Historic Site |
CHESTER
COUNTY CONFERENCE AND VISITORS BUREAU
17 Wilmont Mews, Suite 400, West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: 610-719-1730 Fax: 610-719-1736 Toll Free Visitors Info. 800-228-9933