Susquehanna National Heritage Area is developing the historic Mifflin House & Farm in Wrightsville, PA into the Susquehanna Discovery Center & Heritage Park (SDC). This new, world-class destination will introduce visitors and locals to the nationally important stories and experiences of America’s 55th National Heritage Area.

Enduring stories of courage, conscience, collaboration, and conflict live on this land and within the walls of the property’s historic structures. In the 1800s, freedom seekers escaping the horrors of chattel slavery found refuge in the home of Jonathan and Susanna Wright Mifflin before crossing the Susquehanna River. On June 28th, 1863, the farm was central to the Civil War fighting in Wrightsville when Confederate General John B. Gordon ordered artillery to the front yard of the home. This small battle set the stage for the Battle of Gettysburg three days later.

In spring 2025, the Mifflin House & Farm received national recognition when it was added to the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Created by Congress in 1998, the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom serves to honor, preserve, and promote the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, which continues to inspire people worldwide. The Mifflin House & Farm is one of only three sites in York County to be honored with this designation.

Beginning in 2017, SNHA, along with partners Preservation Pennsylvania and The Conservation Fund (TCF), worked to preserve this historic ground for future generations. In April 2022, TCF purchased the 87-acre property and in 2023, transferred it to SNHA for development over the next 5-10 years. In May 2025, SNHA completed a Master Plan & Interpretive Framework (link to Master Plan PDF), providing a roadmap for the SDC project over the next decade.

The site will feature:

  • Discovery Center & Susquehanna River Art Museum, in the historic barns and a new addition, will welcome and orient visitors to the site as well as provide an overview of the entire National Heritage Area through the lens of the region’s nationally important stories. The Susquehanna River Art Museum, the first of its type, will focus on the legacy of the artists who painted along the Susquehanna River by documenting and displaying more than 400 years
  • An Underground Railroad Learning Center, in the historic Mifflin House, will utilize multimedia and immersive exhibits to present the stories of the freedom seekers, the Mifflin Family, and Black and white collaborators who fought against slavery in southern Pennsylvania, connecting these efforts to the national antislavery and Underground Railroad movements.
  • A 79-acre Heritage Park will provide immersive interpretation of the local Civil War battle and Underground Railroad activity and passive recreational opportunities for visitors and the community via a network of trails while restoring large areas back to their natural habitats.
  • Freedom’s Crossing River Park, located along the shore of the Susquehanna River, will provide the community with riverfront access for water-related activities, picnicking, walking trails with a connection to the Mason-Dixon Trail, and interpretation of the Underground Railroad routes that crossed the Susquehanna River here.

This project offers a unique and innovative opportunity to embrace historic preservation, inclusive storytelling, art appreciation, economic development, outdoor recreation, land conservation, and watershed protection into a cohesive experience.

Click here for a printable version of the Susquehanna Discovery Center & Heritage Park Master Plan & Interpretive Framework

Click here for our latest project update 

Hours of Operation:  

In May 2025, the Mifflin House and grounds opened to the public for the first time ever. The site is open to the public, free of charge, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the end of October. Guided tours of the house take place at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

Group tours of 15 or more are always welcome. Reservations can be made by contacting Pete Miele, Senior Project Leader.

For more information:  

Pete Miele, Senior Project Leader
pmiele@susqnha.org
717-252-0229 x107