Allentown
Back in 1762, William Allen, Chief Justice of Colonial Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, former mayor of Philadelphia and successful businessman, drew up plans for a rural village known as Northamptontown. Folks didn’t care for the lengthy, formal name so they called it “Allen’s Town.” In 1838, the city officially adopted the name Allentown.
Allentown is a striving metropolis whose roots started with the iron industry. In 1829, Allentown went from a small village comprised of Pennsylvania Dutch farmers and tradesmen to a major area of commerce. The Lehigh Canal opened. Many canal workers made their homes here. In the 1830s-40s, the Lehigh Valley gave birth to America’s industrial revolution. Coupled with the impact of the Lehigh Canal and later the railroads, Allentown finally achieved the commercial success William Allen envisioned.
Today, the Allentown Art Museum is one of its main attractions. The museum offers exhibitions of notable artists such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Andy Warhol’s Athlete Series, paintings by Flemish and Barocci, just to name a few. Tour the Museum of Indian Culture that honors the native Lenni Lenape people. Begin each year with a drive through Lights in the Parkway, a symbol of community spirit that burns brightly as it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. Allentown’s Canal Park is nearby, providing easy access to the D&L Trail, plus opportunities for hiking, biking, jogging, fishing and access to the waterways for paddlers.
Things to see and do in Allentown
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(The Old) Lehigh County Courthouse
Housed in the old Lehigh County Courthouse, Lehigh County Museum houses a great collection of historical artifacts and displays.
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This vibrant cultural center offers a world-class collection, an exceptional schedule of special exhibitions, programs for visitors of all ages and a distinctive museum store.
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Allentown Bureau of Recreation
The City of Allentown offers recreational activities for people of all ages.
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The Allentown Symphony Orchestra is the leading symphonic ensemble in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.
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America on Wheels celebrates the history of over-the-road transportation and highlights future means of moving people and product, through a variety of exhibits and educational programs.
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Baker Center for the Arts - Muhlenberg College
Arts center on the Muhlenberg College campus providing dance, theatre and entertainment productions.
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Dating back to 1841, and spanning 145 feet over Little Lehigh River, it is one of the oldest covered bridges in the region and in the nation.
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Park located in South Whitehall Township; location of Haines Mill Museum.
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Cedar Creek Parkway West offers a variety of recreation opportunities.
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Civic Theatre of Allentown - 19th St. Theatre
Founded in 1927, Civic Theater of Allentown is a professionally staffed community arts center, offering the best in theatre, arts education, film and more.
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The center provides every young person with fun and hands-on educational opportunities.
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Victorian row home of Frank Buchman, founder of the International Moral Re-Armament Peace Movement.
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The bridge that anchors the eastern end of South Whitehall Township's Covered Bridge Park is Manasses Guth's Bridge. It joins the Wehr Covered Bridge as bookends to this unique park along Jordan Creek.
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A mill has stood here on the banks of the Cedar Creek since colonial times. Haines Mill still operates for demonstrations today, offering a trip into the world of the early technology that supported farm life.
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Located along the Appalachian Flyway in east-central Pennsylvania, scenic Hawk Mountain Sanctuary offers visitors an outstanding, year-round nature experience with its mountaintop vistas, 8 miles of hiking trails, and the thrilling migration of nearly 20,000 hawks, eagles and falcons each autumn.
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Leaser Lake was built by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission for water-oriented recreation, and opened for public use in 1971.
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The eight-foot-wide asphalt trail starts near the Easton Area High School and traverses a variety of landscapes including forests, farmland, residential neighborhoods, and the banks of the Lehigh River.
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Lehigh County Parks & Recreation Department
The Bureau of Parks & Recreation is responsible for the development and management of approximately 2,500 acres of County Park land and open space.
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The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is a nonprofit, membership-supported organization that serves as a regional advocate and ambassador for the Lehigh Valley arts community.
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Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Lehigh Valley holds many wonders for its visitors, including The Crayola Factory, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, various history and cultural museums, a wine trail and covered bridge tour, and endless spots to hike, camp and fish.
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Lehigh Valley Covered Bridge Tour
The Lehigh Valley's seven quaint, historic covered bridges are highlighted on this self-guided tour.
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The Lehigh County Historical Society is one of the largest historical societies in America and houses one of the finest historical research libraries in the state of Pennsylvania.
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Allentown SportsFest promotes sports in the Lehigh Valley by offering to local and national athletes the chance to compete in the sport of their choice.
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The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit organization composed of nine family-owned wineries to promote premium Pennsylvania wines from the Lehigh Valley. The wine trail displays one of the largest wineries in the state, a few mid-sized wineries and several boutique wineries.
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The impressive memorial where the Liberty Bell was safely kept hidden in 1777.
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At the Lil-Le-Hi Trout Nursery visitors can feed the trout or enjoy the arboretum and nature trail.
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A stocked trout stream that winds its way from Emmaus through Allentown.
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See 14 Mack truck models from 1907 to 1973, plus memorabilia and photographs. (Occasional changes in displays.) If you like trucks, you'll love this museum.
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The Martin Art Gallery offers year-round exhibitions, cross-curriculum programs, lectures, and opening receptions to foster aesthetic learning experiences for Muhlenberg College as well as the broader community.
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The Mayfair Festival of the Arts is a multidisciplinary event with something for everybody. Events include artist displays, craft exhibitions, music, dance, poetry readings, and other live performances.
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The Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre offers a taste of Broadway in the Lehigh Valley. Each summer, the company offers several professional productions for adults and children.
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Showcased in an 18th century stone farmhouse, the Museum of Indian Culture is an educational resource center for people of all ages to learn and research about the Lenape (Delaware) and other Northeastern Woodland Indian cultures.
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Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra
Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, as the preeminent orchestral ensemble in the Lehigh Valley, is frequently praised for its innovative and interesting programs that feature performances by guest soloists recognized for their ability to communicate with the audience.
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Located in the grassy lot adjacent to PPL Plaza, farmers and produce grocers offer a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, flowers, herbs, baked goods, sweets, and handmade soaps.
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RDT provides dancers with high quality dance training and performance opportunities like the Nutcracker, a spring ballet, and numerous community based performances.
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St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Allentown
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the Lehigh Valley with the traditional St. Patty's Day parade!
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The Great Allentown Fair features thousands of farm and home exhibits amidst the excitement of rides, games, variety acts, international food and the biggest stars in show business.
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Within the last two decades, the Theatre Outlet has become one of Pennsylvania's premiere not-for-profit performance companies dedicated to the production of alternative theatre.
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Trout Hall, Allentown's oldest surviving home, was built for James Allen, member of an elite British American family and a son of the founder of Allentown.
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The WK&S Railroad is located in Kempton, Pennsylvania, in scenic Berks County. Known as the "Hawk Mountain Line" because of its proximity to the famous bird sanctuary, the WK&S has been open since 1963.
