Butler County is a rural county located in western Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh. It has a colorful history, dating back to the 18th century, when George Washington passed through on his first military undertaking. The county was named for General Richard Bulter, an officer in the American Revolution, and is home to many small towns, all of which boast their own history and their own tourist attractions.
Butler County has a rich history, beginning with Washington's Trail, the route that was taken by General George Washington at the start of the French and Indian War. A companion exhibit at the Harmony Museum, in the town of Harmony, provides details of Washington's journey. Harmony has been designated a National Historic Landmark District, both because of the connection to George Washington and because of its founders, the Harmony Society of German Lutheran Separatists, who moved from Germany to Butler County to seek refuge from religious persecution.
Harmony Museum
218 Mercer Street
Harmony, PA 16037
724-452-7341
harmonymuseum.org/
Moraine State Park is a 16,000-acre park in Butler County that provides locals and tourists with a variety of options for outdoor adventures in all seasons. The park houses Lake Arthur, where fishing and boating are popular summertime activities, along with swimming in the two designated areas. If you're looking for something to do in the winter, ice fishing, ice sailing and ice skating are all available on the lake, while the park's hiking trails turn into snowmobile routes and snowshoeing or cross-country skiing trails.
Moraine State Park
225 Pleasant Valley Road
Portersville, PA 16051-9650
724-368-8811
dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/Parks/moraine.aspx
When it comes to fairs and festivals, Butler County has something for tourists in nearly every month of the year. If you're visiting in June, check out the Cruise-a-palooza, a downtown Butler festival, with food and entertainment. The Portersville Steam Show happens three times a year and features all variety of steam-powered vehicles on display, as well as a steam-powered tractor pull. In Zelienople, Horse Trading Days come in July, combining a craft fair with a car show with a horse parade. The big event each summer occurs over the July 4 holiday when the Big Butler Fair comes to town. An annual occurrence for over 150 years, the fair has all of the trappings of a traditional county fair including livestock, rides and harness racing.
Being a rural county, Butler County has a full agenda of agricultural fairs and festivals to attract tourists. In August, the Butler Farm show features farm exhibits and demonstrations along with music, rides and entertainment. The Butler County Farm Tour happens in October and allows visitors to tour local farms and learn about their operation. The Pennsylvania Simply Sweet Onion Festival celebrates the region's onion crop in August and September with a farmers' market, cooking demonstrations and, of course, an onion-eating contest.
Visitors have a number of lodging options to choose from in Butler Country. There are several chain hotels, as well as local lodging options, including the Conley Resort. The 56-room hotel boasts year-round golf for guests and has an indoor water park for families. For an outdoor experience, there are several campgrounds with campsites and cabins available for rent.
Conley Resort
740 Pittsburgh Road
Butler, PA 16002
800-344-7303
conleyresort.com/golf/proto/conleyresort/
