“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” (James 4:10). That’s the prescription that Pennsylvania’s Amish and Mennonite communities have lived by since the 1720s, when they settled here as part of William Penn’s grand experiment in religious tolerance. Both groups had their beginnings in the European Anabaptist movement of the 16th century, which taught that baptism should occur at adulthood, and that those so baptised should live apart from the larger society.

Dutch country Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania is named the “Keystone” state because of its integral part in the historical vote for independence and for being the supporting vote for a new government.

Besides being known as the “Keystone” state, Pennsylvania has several other nicknames, including the “Quaker” state -named for the religion of the Quaker William Penn who settled the state. The “Coal” state, the “Oil” state and also the “Steel” state are three additional nicknames for Pennsylvania due to the state’s three largest industries.

Pennsylvania is separated into fourteen different metropolitan areas: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, Lancaster, York-Hanover, Reading, Erie, Johnston, State College, Altoona, Sharon and Williamsport.

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

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The Pocono Mountains region covers 2,400 square miles of wooded peaks, valleys, lakes, rivers and waterfalls and is located in the northeastern Pennsylvania, encompassing Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties.

The county seats are Jim Thorpe, Stroudsburg, Milford and Honesdale, each offering a quaint, historic atmosphere, unique shopping and dining experiences, authentic historic/cultural sites, art galleries and much more.

Poconos Mountains

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The most famous national landmarks blend our colorful history with beautiful or quirky aesthetics.

1. Built over the course of 36 years, the Washington Monument sits on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The obelisk is the tallest structure in town.

Washington Monument

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Let’s begin with the basics:

It’s historic. The Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center. These historic attractions are all within three blocks of one another, and they all tell the story of our nation’s humble but heroic beginnings.

Independence Hall

The U.S. is home to some fabulous big-city art museums, but – surprise – there’s also great art viewing in several smaller cities. Here’s where to go for the ultimate art tour:

1. New York City’s renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s largest art museums, houses an astonishing 2 million pieces. Save energy for the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum.

2. Treat yourself to a peek at the new “Art of the Americas” wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Across the street, lush artworks adorn the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, an Italianate palazzo.

3. Art lovers converge on the Santa Fe Indian Market. The city’s 200 galleries are a major attraction, as are the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

Metropolitan museum of art New York City

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