Revolutionary War Itinerary

Historic Rock Ford was the home of General Edward Hand, doctor, politician and Adjutant General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. This remarkable 33-acre estate offers visitors the opportunity to tour the furnished circa 1794 Georgian Mansion to learn about the Hand family, his role in the Revolution and the diverse communities of Lancaster around the time of the Revolution. You can also explore a nationally recognized collection of decorative arts from 1760-1820 at the John J. Snyder Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts. New for 2026 is the exhibit, Lancaster’s Revolutionaries, where you can learn about the people of Lancaster who contributed to the founding of the country.

This closed community in northern Lancaster County served as a hospital for the wounded after Brandywine. The Ephrata Cloister was a pacifist community, so they remained neutral but did house more than 260 wounded. Sixty men died at the Cloister and are buried in the nearby Mount Zion Cemetery.

Step into a peaceful community where spiritual life shaped daily routines. As the Revolution unfolded, this community navigated complex choices about loyalty and belief. Walk the grounds, explore historic buildings, and consider how faith and freedom intersected during a pivotal moment in history.

Lancaster became a central hub for munitions and equipment during the Revolutionary War. It was also the Capital for just one day on September 27, 1777. The Continental Congress stayed in Lancaster for only one day because the city lacked sufficient lodging for the large number of delegates, and crucially, they still felt too close and vulnerable to the advancing British army from nearby Philadelphia, deciding to move further west to York for greater safety and to place the Susquehanna River as a natural barrier. Penn Square stands on the site of Lancaster’s original county courthouse, the building where Congress convened. On the west side of the square, notice the historical market for Bailey’s Printshop. Bailey was an official printer for the Congress and worked at this site from 1773 to 1780. Just north of the square (W Orange and N Queen), you will find a historic marker for Joseph Simon. This influential Jewish merchant supported the Continental Army with arms and equipment. Simon worked with William Henry, a gunsmith and an important patriot. Together, they worked to keep the army supplied not just with guns but also with items like shoes, hats, and flour. While in town, head to 313 North Duke Street, where you will find military stables and barracks.

On the southwest corner of Penn Square stand three Witness Stones that commemorate the lives of Bet, Susan, and Robert, who were enslaved here by General Edward Hand. The Lancaster City Witness Stones Project is a local, education-based collaboration of the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania, Historic Rock Ford, and the School District of Lancaster. This project is part of the Witness Stones Project, Inc., a regional non-profit organization whose mission is to expand knowledge and understanding of Northern slavery.

In 1777, this church’s congregation gathered under a tree to pledge their support for the American patriots. The tree they stood under became known as the Witness Tree and became a symbol of their commitment to the American Revolution. There is a cast-iron memorial here commemorating their pledge. The Donegal Society now maintains this beautiful location and preserves the history of the Scots-Irish immigrants who settled in the Donegal Township area. This site offers a powerful connection to the individuals and ideals that shaped the nation’s founding.

This massive furnace once created cannonballs for the Continental Army, linking local industry to a national cause. The furnace was owned by James Smith of York, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. On the site, you will also find ruins of the workhouses, forge, charcoal house, and the ironmaster’s house.
A nearby hike in the Susquehanna Riverlands State Park will take you to see the ironmaster’s house. It’s currently being preserved by the state parks. Walk the landscape, take in river views, and reflect on how natural resources and human effort shaped the Revolutionary era.

The Colonial Complex in York served as the seat of the Continental Congress during its 1777–78 refuge from British forces, making it a pivotal site in the Revolutionary War. In the Colonial Courthouse, Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation and laid critical groundwork for the new nation’s government. During this York session, Congress also proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving, calling citizens to gratitude and unity at a moment of profound uncertainty.

Downtown York stops: Just steps from the Colonial Complex, visitors can explore several other Revolutionary-era landmarks that bring York’s wartime role to life. A quick walk down Market Street to the corner of Beaver Street will bring you to the site of Hall & Sellers Press, which operated in York during the critical period of Congress. This firm printed continental currency and important congressional documents.

Walk two blocks north to The York Liberty Bell, cast in 1777 to call citizens to assembly during Congress’s stay. It still stands as a symbol of local patriot resolve. It can be found in the St. John’s Episcopal Church vestibule, just steps from the historic marker. (140 N. Beaver Street)

Opening in July 2026 and running through December 2028, this exhibit explores York County’s pivotal role in American Revolution. Learn how the people of this rural community responded to war and York’s role as the nation’s capital for nine months from September 30, 1777 through June 27, 1778. While in York, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, and negotiated treaties with France that helped win the war. This exhibit also provides an opportunity to reflect on the 250th anniversary of our country’s independence, the legacy of the Revolution, and the ongoing work toward the American ideals of equality, liberty and freedom.

Would you rather have a guided tour of downtown? Check out the York County History Center’s Revolutionary York Walking Tour. Guides will share stories of local heroes, as well as national notables such as George Washington and “Mad” Anthony Wayne. Included in this tour is the site of a duel that was to take place between General Horatio Gates and James Wilkinson.

In operation from the summer of 1781 through the end of the Revolutionary War in May 1783, Camp Security was a prison encampment that housed over 1500 British privates and noncommissioned officers and their families captured at the battles of Saratoga, NY, and later, Yorktown, VA. Initially constructed and guarded by the York County militia, Continental Army units also were stationed here. Archaeological investigations are underway to uncover more details about the layout and construction of the camp and about camp life. Currently, a visit to the park showcases a preserved landscape and a babbling creek.

Camp Security Park is home to York County’s new bronze America250 Semiquincentennial Liberty Bell replica. The program placed permanent bronze bells across the Commonwealth to highlight historically significant locations.