Heritage and Culture

(Mid-Atlantic Region, November 20, 2019) — As we take time this November to celebrate a long-held American tradition, the Mid-Atlantic States take a look at the many and diverse culturally significant events and places that have contributed to the region’s rich heritage and the impact they have made on the people who live here. For more information on any of the following, contact the destination marketing organization listed below. For general information on the Mid-Atlantic, visit MATPRA.org.

DELAWARE

Delaware’s Quaint Villages
Head to downtown Historic Dover for guided walking tours throughout First State Heritage Park, Delaware’s first urban park without boundaries linking historical and cultural sites in Dover. Hear stories from 18th century dressed interpreters of how Delaware became the first state. Delaware’s Quaint Villages (Kent County, DE), Danielle Jonigan, www.VisitDelawareVillages.com, [email protected]

Greater Wilmington
The Swedes and Finns settled in what is now Wilmington, Delaware in 1638. Today thousands visit Old Swedes Historic Site each year to trace their genealogy. See the original 1698 Church and look for family in its historic graveyard. In 1800 the du Pont’s arrived architecting the area’s diverse cultural attractions. Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sarah Willoughby, VisitWilmingtonDE.com , [email protected]

MARYLAND

State of Maryland
Maryland’s rich watermen heritage can be experienced through Watermen Heritage Tours, with visitors pulling crab pots from the Chesapeake Bay, tonging for oysters and working the lines aboard a skipjack. Maryland is also home to a variety of cultural and heritage festivals. Maryland Office of Tourism, Matthew Scales, VisitMaryland.org, [email protected]

Baltimore
Baltimore is hometown to historical icons, sites and museums. The city is not only filled with American heritage but is an integral part of world history. From the birth of the U.S. national anthem, the immigration of thousands onto American soil, to the creation of America’s first railroad, Baltimore is teeming with historical significance. Visit Baltimore, Abigail Vitaliano, www.Baltimore.org, [email protected]

Calvert County
The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum tells the story of the Amusement Park that was built over the Chesapeake Bay in 1900 and the Chesapeake Beach Railway. The Bayside History Museum highlights stories of the bayside communities, complete with vintage restaurant menus. The Calvert Marine Museum focuses on Chesapeake maritime history. Calvert County Department of Economic Development, Hilary Dailey, ChooseCalvert.com, [email protected]

Charles County
Follow the threads of rural roads and trails, and you can feel the beginnings of countless stories…stories of the past and stories that have yet to be told. Here, legendary figures and treasures play hide and seek, and you can feel free to discover them at your own pace. Charles County Government, Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism, Catherine Herbert, www.ExploreCharlesCounty.com, [email protected]

Frederick County
Frederick’s rich German heritage is reflected at Schifferstadt, one of the country’s finest examples of German colonial architecture. The historic home is open for tours and is home to an authentic Oktoberfest every year. Visit Frederick, Melissa Joseph Muntz, www.VisitFrederick.org, [email protected]

Hagerstown – Washington County
The Jonathan Hager House, home to Hagerstown’s founder German immigrant Jonathan Hager, demonstrates German customs and traditions practiced by local settlers. Historians in Washington County are also working to interpret Washington County’s rich African American history from the 19th century to the present through tours, special programs, lectures and exhibits. Visit Hagerstown, Betsy DeVore, VisitHagerstown.com, [email protected]

Harford County
Located where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace, Maryland has a rich maritime heritage and waterfowling tradition. The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum showcases why this area is named Decoy Capital of the World! Learn more about the history of this area at four additional museums. Visit Harford, Mindy Schneider, www.VisitHarford.com, [email protected]

Howard County
Howard County is distinguished by its beautiful, open areas and rich agricultural heritage. By combining rural charm of Western Howard County with easy access to many nearby urban resources just as Columbia & Ellicott City, Howard County Maryland offers the best of both worlds. Visit Howard County, Crystal Abrom, VisitHowardCounty.com, [email protected]

Wicomico County
Learn about the history and culture of Wicomico County at the Barren Creek Heritage Museum in Mardela Springs and the Charles H. Chipman Cultural Center in Salisbury. Visitors can step back in time in Whitehaven, Salisbury’s Newtown neighborhood, Poplar Hill Mansion and Pemberton Hall. Wicomico County, Vanessa Junkin, www.WicomicoTourism.org, [email protected]

PENNSYLVANIA

Allegheny National Forest
New Historic Collectible Pin Trail for 10 sites in McKean County, Pennsylvania, showcase the cultural history of the area’s rich timber and oil industries. Sites include American Modernism Architecture, engineering marvels the Kinzua Sky Walk and the Zippo lighter, and the start of the endangered species movement -the McCleery Discovery Center. Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, Linda Devlin, VisitANF.com, [email protected]

Butler County
The German towns of Saxonburg and Harmony are steeped in rich culture and heritage. The architecture in Saxonburg takes you back to early Germany, while the old brick and log buildings of Harmony, make it one of western Pennsylvania’s most historically important places and a National Historic Landmark District. Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, Tiffany Hernandez, VisitButlerCounty.com, [email protected]

Central Pennsylvania
Bellefonte: Well-preserved Victorian charm. Emerging local food and drink. Historic and artistic significance. Excellent B&Bs. Renowned outdoor recreation and parks including developing waterfront feature. Birthplace of 7 Governors. Nestled quite literally in the Nittany Valley in a picturesque location between Bald Eagle Mountain and Mount Nittany. Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau, Edward Stoddard, www.VisitPennState.org, [email protected]

Endless Mountains

Nicholson Bridge, (aka the Tunkhannock Viaduct) has been referred to as an Engineering Wonder of the World as the span makes rail travel easier connecting mountains. The Nicholson Train Station, undergoing restoration, is where visitors can learn about the history of this viaduct. Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, Morgan Christopher, www.EndlessMountains.org, [email protected]

Greater Johnstown/ Cambria County

In addition to being the Flood City, Johnstown has been a canal port, a railroad center, a steelmaking center, and the new home for a colorful assortment of European immigrants. This community was knocked down three times by devastating floods. Each time, our residents honored their dead, rolled up their sleeves, and rebuilt their homes and businesses. Greater Johnstown/ Cambria County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Olivia Bragdon, VisitJohnstownPA.com, [email protected]

Lancaster County
Lancaster County’s Pennsylvania Dutch heritage includes our Amish community – highlighted at interpretive attractions like the Amish Experience, the Amish Farm & House, and the Amish Village – as well as our Pennsylvania German culture, which visitors can explore at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum and the Hans Herr House. Discover Lancaster, Joel Cliff, www.DiscoverLancaster.com, [email protected]

Lehigh Valley
Step back in time as you explore Moravian culture in Bethlehem, PA. The downtown region includes 19 historic buildings, 20 acres of land, 40,000 artifacts, two National Historic landmarks, and countless stories. Additionally, Historic Moravian Bethlehem has been nominated to the U.S. Tentative List for the World Heritage designation. Discover Lehigh Valley, Kaitie Burger, DiscoverLehighValley.com, [email protected]

Potter County – Tioga County
The rich lumber history of Pennsylvania’s northern tier is celebrated at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum along historic Route 6 where visitors will discover interactive displays, exhibits, and educational resources. Special events throughout the year offer fun, informative and seasonal opportunities for visitors to discover the region’s story. Visit Potter-Tioga, Morgan Christopher, VisitPotterTioga.com, [email protected]

Reading, Berks County
Settlers from the Palatinate of the Rhine came to Pennsylvania for religious freedom. Once here, languages, traditions, arts, customs and foods blended to create the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Today those who live in Pennsylvania’s Americana Region appreciate the influence of our PA Dutch ancestors and celebrate them annually at the Kutztown Folk Festival. Pennsylvania’s Americana Region, Lisa Haggerty, www.VisitPaAmericana.com, [email protected]

VIRGINIA

Fairfax County
Home to many historic attractions like George Washington’s estate, a Smithsonian museum and Civil War sites, Fairfax County’s culture and heritage runs deep. Visit an authentic Korean Bell Garden or sample the DC area’s best Korean food before enjoying a performance under the stars at world-class venues like Wolf Trap. Visit Fairfax, Ali Morris, www.FXVA.com, [email protected]

Fredericksburg Region
History abounds in the Fredericksburg Region from the Revolution and George Washington’s Ferry Farm, Civil War to Civil Rights, a visit to Shannon Air Museum where you will learn about the founding of Eastern Airlines or take a ride on a rail work car at the Rappahannock Rail Museum. Fredericksburg Region, Debbie Aylor, www.VisitFred.com, [email protected]

Harrisonburg
Home to one of the original arts and cultural districts in Virginia, Harrisonburg has a renowned art scene from public art, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, diverse festivals and a vibrant local music scene. This area truly represents a crossroads with its diversity of people, languages, and religions. Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services, Jessica Williams, www.VisitHarrisonburgVA.com, [email protected]

Lexington & Rockbridge
Lexington, Virginia is a Shenandoah Valley destination settled in 1777 and rich in a variety of history. Between the Natural Bridge once owned by Thomas Jefferson and the farm where Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, visitors are introduced to Civil War, settlement, and transportation history. Lexington & Rockbridge Area Tourism, Patty Williams, LexingtonVirginia.com, [email protected]

Lynchburg
This is Lynchburg. Take a deep dive into the personal life of America’s third president and his affection for Lynchburg at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. This National Historic Landmark gives you a glimpse into Mr. Jefferson’s architectural prowess and the lives of the slave population who ran the plantation. Visit Lynchburg, Krista Boothby, LynchburgVirginia.org, [email protected]

Prince William County
U.S. military heritage runs deep in D.C.’s Countryside. Home to Manassas National Battlefield Park, where the 1st two battles of the Civil War were fought as well as the National Museum of the Marine Corps, there is no shortage of rich military history to discover in Prince William, Virginia. Prince William County Office of Tourism, Nicole Warner, VisitPWC.com, [email protected]

Shenandoah County
Known historically as the Breadbasket of the South Shenandoah County has maintained much of its agricultural roots with family farms in the region diversifying and selling their products to local restaurants. Farm-to-table dining is not just a trendy buzzword around here; it’s a way of life. Shenandoah County Tourism, Jenna French, www.VisitShenandoahCounty.com, [email protected]

WEST VIRGINIA

Hampshire County
Hampshire County museums, cemeteries, farms and markets, festivals, scenic trails, train rides, and old fashioned resorts will take you back in time to a bygone era. Family-owned and operated hotels, restaurants and art/music centers bring our rich heritage to life so travelers experience life as it was meant to be. Hampshire County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Jonathan Bellingham, cometohampshire.com, [email protected]

About the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance
The Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) is a cohesive unit of regional tourism partners encompassing Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The group serves travel journalists by creating a regional resource that ignores geographical boundaries while promoting common threads, offering story ideas about the Mid-Atlantic region as a whole. For more information, visit MATPRA.org.