Whiskey Rebellion Education & Visitor Center

In 1791 the young government of the United States, in a move to  pay off debts from the Revolutionary War, passed a tax on whiskey. This was strongly opposed by farmers who found that whiskey was easier to transport to market and more profitable than harvested grain. The tax was to be paid in cash which rural farmers rarely had. If taxes weren't paid and stills weren't registered the farmers were required to travel to federal court in Philadelphia. All of this was met with resistance by the farmers who refused to pay and often harassed tax collectors until they left town. 

In 1794 a group of Washington county farmers, led by Washington attorney David Bradford, marched towards Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attacked and burned the home of a tax inspector. With uprisings against the tax increasing, the federal government decided that a show of force was needed. George Washington personally led an army of 13,000 militiamen to western Pennsylvania and gave orders to suppress the rebellion and arrest the leaders. Most escaped into the mountains but the raid ended the violence. 

David Bradford fled south to present day Louisiana and lived there for the rest of his life. His house is across Main Street from the visitor center and open for tours but not accessible.

The small visitor center covers the rebellion from the causes to the aftermath. 

The visitor center is accessible.

There's an accessible on-street parking space in front of the museum where RVs will fit as long as the space behind it is empty.  Visitor Center  40.16811, -80.24459

 

Fort Ligonier

In the summer of 1758, the British built Fort Ligonier, the western most British fort along the newly constructed Forbes Road which was about 220 miles long and ran from Carlisle, Pennsylvania to the French Fort Duquesne. (now the site of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). The British hoped to conquer Fort Duquesne and force the French out of the Ohio River Valley, an area that the French had been steadily moving into and claiming for France. 

 The British attempted but failed to take Fort Duquesne in 1754. Instead of negotiating a peaceful settlement, both countries sent troops to North America. This was the start of the Seven Years War a battle for control by England and France that became a world war with fighting in India, North America, Europe, the West Indies, the Philippines, and coastal Africa. Great Britain, Prussia, Portugal were allied on one side and France, Spain, Austria, Russia, Sweden on the other. A good portion of the museum explains the Seven Year War in detail. Exhibits also cover the building of Fort Ligonier and Forbes Road. 

The fort has been reconstructed in the original location following 18th century plans and clues found by archeologists. Buildings include barracks, officer's quarters, store rooms, a hospital, smokehouse, sawmill, bake ovens, and a blacksmith's forge. Wagons and artillery are on the grounds.

When we visited there were only two reenactors- a hat maker and a wash woman. Both were friendly and knowledgeable. 

The museum is accessible. Paved paths circle around the grounds. The fort is located up a very steep hill. The website states:   "Arrangements can be made for those guests who are unable to walk to the Upper Fort." We did not ask but most likely they use a golf cart that is not accessible. Most of the buildings have steps but it is possible to peek into them. 

The parking lot is unlevel and uphill from the museum however there are two accessible spaces in the level area near the museum where short RVs will fit. Fort  40.24142, -79.23872

 

Maridon Museum

The Asian art in this museum is the culmination of forty years of collecting by Mary Hulton Phillips. Even though she never traveled farther than Atlantic City, NJ. Mary fell in love with the intricate carvings in ivory and jade and chose each of the over 800 pieces from local or New York City dealers who would save pieces that they thought she would like. 

   

Before Mary died in 2009 she hired an architect and had the museum built to house the collection that had previously filled her modest Butler, Pa home. The museum is small with four galleries displaying a wide range of art from 2000-3000 BC  to the early 20th century.

     

Everything is accessible.  

Parking is on the street or in the alley that runs along the south side of the museum.  Museum  40.86417, -79.89413

 

Trout Island Trail

This quiet, pretty, and shady 5 mile out and back trail travels through a forest of young trees. The dam is located about 3/4 of a mile in and a parallel paved path starts there. We walked/rolled along the path until we came to a couple of downed trees and had to turn around to continue on the main trail. When pavement ends, the trail continues as a narrow dirt path that may go all the way to Shenango Reservoir.  

The trail is fairly level except for the first section that goes down hill.It's paved and in good condition. The dirt section is not accessible.

 

The parking lot is short and only has two spaces. Large vehicles can be parked on the street. Trail   41.26456, -80.47423

 

Codorus State Park

The dam that formed Marburg Lake in Codorus State Park was built in 1965 as a cooperative project between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a large paper company. The company needed a steady supply of water and lake would provide water for the local communities. The lake is also a focal point for the Corodus State Park that opened in 1970. Unfortunately the lake water fluctuates so much due to the amount drawn by the paper mill that building and maintaining a beach is impossible but the park does have swimming pool. 

Almost all  26 miles of shoreline is state park and provides a wide variety of recreation opportunities - camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, swimming, mountain biking, disc golf, boating, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, sledding, and ice fishing. We'll come back to explore the park thoroughly when we have more time.

The campground has about 200 sites which are mix of full hook up, electric, non-electric, and tent. Amenities include restrooms with showers and a dump station. 

Seven sites, both full hook up and electric only, are accessible. We didn't need electricity so I chose site 14, a non electric site, because of the distance from other sites and because the stated driveway grade is slight. Although not designated as accessible, site 14 is good fairly level with small gravel under the table and plenty of room to deploy a lift.  Park  39.775, -76.9146

 

York County History Center

The History Center moved into the former Met-Ed steam power plant in August 2024 with all new exhibits including a 12 foot tall Reddy Kilowatt. 

The first exhibits describe the role York, Pennsylvania, founded in 1741, played in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. The city hosted the Continental Congress from September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778 while the Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted. During the Civil War the city was occupied by the Confederate Army for three days before they marched to Gettysburg. After the battle  thousands of wounded Union soldiers were treated in the York U.S. Army Hospital. 

Other exhibits cover stories of local residents who were involved in the Underground Railroad helping runaway slaves as they headed north, plus tales of early settlers and farming practices. Artifacts include a large variety of equipment and machinery built in York factories. On display is a very complicated looking machine from D. F. Stauffer Biscuit Co. that made animal crackers using a long cylindrical cutter.  The company made the first animal crackers in the US and has been in business for over 150. 

Another complicated piece of machinery is a huge  A-frame ammonia compressor built by York International in the early 1900s.  It was used until the 1970s at the Cudahy Packing Company in Wichita, Kansas to produce ice and refrigeration for preserving meat products. 

The museum is accessible. The admission price includes three more museums in the complex but their hours are very limited so we didn't visit any of them.

Parking is located directly north of the museum. Go past the museum on Pershing Avenue, round the corner onto Gay Avenue then turn right into the lot. The lot is large enough for RVs. History Center  39.96376, -76.73228

Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Store

Mister Ed's is a family business now being run by the third generation of Gotwalts. Changes over the years included a complete rebuilding after a devastating fire in 2011. Hundreds of volunteers came to clean the elephant collection. Although some were destroyed, thousands survived and are on display in the museum.

 

And then there's the candy! Handmade fudge and chocolates, loose candy by the pound, jelly bellies, Pez candy and dispensers, and nostalgic candy bars, plus nuts and souvenirs. 

Don't miss the small garden featuring animal statues, a fountain, and a teapot collection. 

 

     The museum is accessible. The garden path is rough in spots and the arched bridge is steep. Wheelchair users may need assistance. 

The parking lot is large enough for RVs. It's surfaced with gravel and the store entrance is uphill so wheelchair users may need assistance. Museum/Store  39.89827, -77.43027