For those visiting the Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, area, surrounding cultural and historic sites more than make up for the low profile of this town that lies 45 miles north of Philadelphia. Amid forests and rolling countryside ideal for outdoor pursuits, cultural heritage is rich; the spirit of George Washington and Daniel Boone are everpresent; and in nearby Lancaster County, Amish culture is pervasive.
The Daniel Boone Homestead, 12 miles west of Gilbertsville in Birdsboro, tells the story of the frontiersman's youth in Pennsylvania's Oley Valley. Boone was born on the homestead in 1734 and lived there until moving to North Carolina in 1750. In addition to information on Boone's life, the site gives visitors a glimpse into the daily lives of 18th-century settlers in general through hands-on activities, a video presentation and living-history demonstrations. Visitors can take guided or self-guided tours of several 18th-century structures, including the Boone house, a barn, a blacksmith shop, a smokehouse and a sawmill.
The Peter Wentz Farmstead, which served as General George Washington's headquarters during the fall of 1777, is 18 miles southwest of Gilbertsville in Lansdale. The site showcases the architecture, furnishings, crafts and customs of what was a typical 18th-century Pennsylvania German farmstead, which Wentz established in 1744. The site includes a Georgian-style farmhouse completed in 1758 and a reconstructed barn that houses farm animals typical of the period. The house is surrounded by gardens, orchards and 90 acres of fields managed as an 18th-century working farmstead.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, 18 miles southwest of Gilbertsville in Elverson, showcases an early American industrial complex. An iron mine and foundry operated from 1771 to 1883, Hopewell Furnace was one of the centers that helped turn the United States into an industrial giant. Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour of the community, which features interpretive recordings and text that explain the story of each building. The visitor center features a 15-minute theatrical production that presents the history of the community.
Lancaster County, 55 miles southwest of Gilbertsville, is home to the Pennsylvania Amish. Here you'll find thousands of the descendants of America's oldest Amish settlement still living in traditional Amish style, with horses and buggies rather than cars, and windmills rather than electricity. Lancaster County is home to more than a dozen towns and villages that offer opportunities for shopping, culture and recreation. The town of Lancaster, at the heart of the county, has a historic downtown filled with art galleries, historic sites, museums and restaurants. Elizabethtown also has galleries, shops and restaurants, while Adamstown is known for antiques.
