Heritage Tourism: The effects on the Amish Community and
the Citizens of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
George Hitchens
HIST 611: Conservation and Preservation (B01)
January 30, 2025
For the past 175 years, Lancaster County, located in south-central Pennsylvania, has a rich
history of tourism that dates to the early 19th century. What attracted these visitors to
Lancaster? First, the county’s scenic beauty, which includes Chickie’s Rock, the rich farmlands of
the county, the rolling hills and the Susquehanna River. Second, the historic landmarks brought
many people to Lancaster. Historical landmarks that include the former home of President
James Buchanan’s Wheatland attracted visitors, as well as the functioning railroad museum at
Strasburg. Strasburg itself is a historic village with most of the homes over one hundred and fifty
years old, and Lancaster City’s Central Market are just a few of the landmarks that attract
tourists. Finally, the Amish and Mennonite’s 18th century culture of “simple life” has interest
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many of the “English” to visit Lancaster County. But it was not until the late 1950’s when
heritage tourism was the focus of Lancaster County.
Heritage Tourism, as defined by the National Trust for Historic Preservation is “traveling to
experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and
people of the past and the present,”1 and Lancaster County was the destination of those
travelers. In
1955, it was estimated that 25,000 to 35,000 people visited the county and contributed about
$750,000 dollars to County’s economy. Today, well over 8 million people visit the county, adding
about $1.7 to $2.2 billion dollars to the local economy.2 That being said, this researcher will
provide evidence showing that heritage tourism is a major factor in the heritage preservation of
Lancaster County, and how the money spent by the tourist help preserve the buildings, the local
heritage and the culture of those residing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Historic preservation is a vital part of Lancaster County. The Historic Preservation Trust
of Lancaster County was founded in 1966. The Trust’s mission is to “stem the rapid destruction
of historic properties and to encourage and facilitate historic preservation throughout the
county.” 3 The Trust has been directly involved in preserving more than three dozen important
Lancaster County landmarks including the Lancaster Central Market, James Buchanan’s
Wheatland, Thaddeus Steven’s house, and Andrew Ellicott’s house, which also serves as the
Trust’s main office. Since the 1950’s tourism has grown exponentially in Lancaster County. Small
towns like Strasburg, Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and New Holland saw huge increases in visitors.
1 Advisory Counsel for Historic Preservation, “Defining Heritage Tourism,” Section 7 of Executive Order
13287, updated March 3, 2006, www.achp.gov/ht/defining.html.
2 Dom Yanchunas, “Lancaster County Attracts over 8 million Today,” Lancaster New Era, May 30, 2005.
https://lancasteronline.com/business/lancaster-county-attracts-0ver-8-million-tourist-today/article_fdadc972.
3 Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, “Mission and Vision,” Retrieved Feb 3,2025,
https:/hptrust.or/mission.
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This resulted in extra income for the small Mom-n-Pop stores, the community as well as extra
tax dollars, not only for the local municipalities, but for the state as well. With this newfound
available funds, the local municipalities were able to provide funding to help preserve the
buildings, the artifacts and the lands that the tourists frequented. As mentioned above, the
Historic Preservation Trust was founded in 1966, but the Mennonite Visitor Center was created
in 1958, to help preserve the Amish and Mennonite culture, and in 1988 the Lancaster
Farmland Trust was founded to help preserve the farms and historical lands of Lancaster
County. Heritage Tourism has had many positive effects on Lancaster County. For example,
economic growth, job creation, tax revenue, quality of life and business growth. Of course,
there are the downfalls of so many people in such a small county. First is the environmental
impact on the county. The increase in tourism leads to environmental degradation, including
pollution littering and damage to the local habitats. Second, traffic has increased in Lancaster
County during the warmer seasons of the year. This increase causes more congestion on the
roads, which can lead to more vehicular accidents, or in the case of the Amish, car and buggy
accidents. Also, travel times have increased, and this can affect the local commuters driving to
work. Third, tourism can drive up the cost of living to the local residents. As the demand for
goods and services increases, so do the prices of housing, food, and gas. Fourth, cultural erosion
is a major downfall created in heritage tourism. The traditional practices and customs of the
local Mennonite and Amish communities may be altered to cater to tourist expectations. Finally,
there is a strain on public services. Increased tourism places a strain on the local infrastructure,
waste management, and public transportation. This can lead to overcrowding facilities,
overtaxing the public sewer systems, and reducing the quality of service for residents. Though
the cost seems high with heritage tourism, it is in fact the opposite. Research has shown that
the local guides and Amish families enjoy showing off their little part of history.
3
Take for example Arthur Wenger, a guide for 19 years in Lancaster County, he wrote in
his book Come along on an Amish Tour that when “taking tourist through Amish country, we try
to show them things that are of interest, especially if they make a request.”4 Meaning, that
those that had already visited the county previously, now have new request and questions to
ask Arthur. Another example from the research showed that many Amish families hosted a
family style dinner for various tourist. Beth E. Graybill an article in the Pennsylvania Mennonite
Heritage magazine, and she wrote “touristy often seek farm-table meals. They bring particular
expectations to eating in an Amish home.”5 Graybill explains how many tourist want that
farmtable experience and shortly afterwards, she helps orchestrate a few different Amish
families to host such dinners. Theses are just a few examples of what the research has
presented for this paper. This researcher, with the use of excellent primary and secondary
sources, will try to prove that heritage tourism has had a positive effect on Lancaster County.
Not only has tourism increased the cash flow into the local area, but it has also made it possible
for the founding of a preservation society that helps preserve the historical buildings, artifacts
and the culture of
Lancaster.
4 Arthur Wenger, Come along on an Amish Tour (Lancaster, PA: Published by Author, 2005), 10.
5 Beth E. Graybill, “Doesn’t it Taste Better down on the Farm,” Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, Volume
41, no. 3 (2018) 93.
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Outline
1. Heritage Tourism of Lancaster County in the 20th Century
A. Lancaster County History
a) Founding and brief history
b) Famous people and places of Lancaster
1. Thaddeus Stevens
2. Andrew Ellicott
c) Historical buildings and places
1. Lancaster Central Market
2. Thaddeus Stevens Home
3. Strasburg Railroad
d) The Amish and Mennonite
1. Their cultures
2. How they participate in tourism trade
B. Heritage Tourism
a) Definition
b) Positive effects
1. Tax increases
2. Economic growth
3. Development of preservation trust
c) Negative effects
1. Overcrowding
2. Traffic congestion
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3. Damage to ecology
C. Preservation Trust
a) Founding and history
b) What the Trust does
c) How the Trust helps the Community.
Conclusion
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Bibliography
Graybill, Beth E. “Doesn’t it Taste Better Down on the Farm: Home-based Amish Food Tourism in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania.” Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, vol. 41, no 3 (2018) 9397.
This article, written by Beth Graybill, explains how many tourist wanted that
“downhome” feeling when visiting farms. They wanted real Amish homecooked meals
unlike the restaurants that claim they cook “Dutch” With the help of a few interested
families, Beth was able to take small tours to Amish farms for a home-cooked Amish
meal. This was a hit, and more tourist wanted to experience the same thing. So, the
Amish community got together, developed a menu and pricing, and allowed more
“English” into their homes for dinner.
Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, “Mission and Vision,” Retrieved Feb 3,2025,
https:/hptrust.or/mission.
Kraybill, Donald B. The Riddle of Amish Culture. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press,
1989.
This book reveals to the reader that the Amish are eager to answer our questions. There
are even a few paragraphs on what they think of the movie Witness. But they also ask us
questions. Questions like, why do we keep our parents out of our homes and place them
into nursing “homes” They ask why we move away from those we love for a job we
hate? This book opens a conversation between the Amish and English.
Kraybill, Donald B., Karen Johnson-Weiner, and Steven M. Nolt. The Amish. Baltimore, MD: John
Hopkins University Press, 2013.
This book, written by three distinguished professors, Steven Nolt, Karen Weiner, and
Donald Kraybill, explores the Amish’s plain way of life, their simple clothing and their
horse-and-buggy mode of transportation. The authors also dive into their emerging
diversity and evolving identities within their culture as well as their transformation and
geographical expansion.
“Meeting with an Interest of a Mennonite Information Service Project.” Salunga Mennonite
Church. July 1958. Mennonite Information Center Collections, Box3, folder 5. Retrieved
January 30, 2025.
This original document contains the minutes that took place in the Salunga Mennonite
Church in 1958. The minutes discussed the reasons as to why there needs to be a
Mennonite Information Center. Many of the families that attended did not appreciate
visitors just trampling on their lands but would allow visitors to tour their farms with a
guide. The meeting did establish some basic guidelines for the future Information
Center.
“Attendant’s Daily Log, 1958”. Mennonite Information Center Collections, Box 2, folder 2.
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Retrieved January 30, 2025.
This was the first daily log of the Mennonite Information Center. The log not only lists
those that attended tours to various Amish homes, but gives handwritten information
on where they came from, their religion, and reasoning for visiting Lancaster County.
Some of the guides would give details on the mannerisms and behaviors of the guest.
Smucker, Anne. The Bird-in-Hand Story: 50 Years of Smucker Hospitality. Bird-in-Hand, PA: Bird in
hand Publishing, 2018.
This book tells the story of the Smucker Family and how they’ve shared their land and
way of life with thousands of visitors to the village of Bird-in-Hand. The book explains
how Lancaster County Tourism started because of a Broadway Show, how the Smucker
Family opened a hotel and restaurant along a country road, how they’ve created events
that include visiting local farms and eating in a cornfield and about the deep-rooted and
cherished traditions that have defined the family.
“Tourist Questions, 1959” Mennonite Information Center Collections. Box 2, folder 5. Retrieved
January 30, 2025.
These questions were the ones originally answered by the guides of the Mennonite
Information Center. A few examples include: Who are the Amish and where did they
Originate? Or what is the difference Between the Amish and Mennonite? And can an
Outsider Join an Old Order Group? The questions and answers provide a detailed history
of what the tourists asked and how the guides answered them. They give insight into an
era 70 years ago.
Weaver-Zercher, David. The Amish in the American Imagination. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins
University Press, 2001.
This study of the Amish focuses on how Americans see the Amish and, in turn, what
these interpretations reveal about 20th century mainstream American culture and
society.
The book identifies the various functions the Amish served for their “English” neighbors.
Wenger, Arthur. Come along on an Amish Tour. Lancaster, PA: Published by Author, 2005.
Written by a guide of 19 years for the Mennonite Information Center. Arthur Wenger
tells his story of why he became a tour guide in Amish country. He focuses on the farms
he visited frequently with tourists and how the Amish community reacted to those that
walked on their farms. Arthur answered many tourist questions and even convinced the
tourist to help the Amish host by finishing some of chores.
