Bedford: History, Museums and Excursions
Accommodation in Bedford
Bedford combines American history with museums, historic sites, hiking trails and varied driving routes through Pennsylvania. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can therefore tailor their trip to different interests: culture and regional history are just as much an option as nature experiences by the water or excursions along historic roads.
Museums and Historic Sites in Bedford
The Fort Bedford Museum takes visitors through several chapters of the region’s past. The exhibitions cover the French and Indian War, the Whiskey Rebellion and the development of the local landscape from “Cave to Empire”. The museum also houses more than 4,000 objects from Bedford’s past. Fort Bedford Museum possesses the only surviving British Red Ensign flag identified with a British fort in North America.
Another focus is textile culture. The National Museum of the American Coverlet is an independent, year-round institution dedicated to historic American coverlets. Changing exhibitions each feature 80 to 100 coverlets, as well as early spinning wheels and barn-frame looms. The museum is housed in a former school building dating from 1859. The Fishertown Quaker Museum complements this with history presented in an 1883 Quaker meetinghouse. Exhibits there include displays, photographs, educational exhibits and genealogical information.
Old Bedford Village is an open-air museum dedicated to living history. More than 40 log and stone buildings, exhibitions, oral interpretation and craft demonstrations provide different ways to engage with the past. The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art–Bedford, located in the historic Anderson House, is also part of the area’s cultural offerings. Those interested in technology and motor racing can find exhibitions on the history of motorsports at the region’s racetracks at the Museum of Speed on the Bedford Fairgrounds.
Landscapes, Water and Trails
For days spent close to nature, Shawnee State Park offers a clear contrast to the museums. The park covers 3,983 acres in Pennsylvania’s scenic Ridge-and-Valley Province. At its center is the 451-acre Shawnee Lake. Twelve miles of hiking trails run around the lake; boating, swimming and fishing are also possible. Guided outdoor activities, hands-on programs, environmental education and special events for all age groups round out the offerings.
Those planning a longer route can consider the Lost Turkey Trail. It is 26 miles long in total, with four miles running through Blue Knob State Park. There, the Homestead Trail passes former settlement sites in a hilly section of the valley. These different trail types allow visitors to make a deliberate choice between a longer trail and an excursion with a historical focus, without conflating the two themes.
Historic Driving Routes as a Day Trip
Bedford County can also be explored via documented driving tours. The Lincoln Highway Driving Tour passes through Bedford County and invites visitors to visit historic sites along the route. The Covered Bridge Driving Tour takes about 90 minutes, crosses nine bridges and passes Gravity Hill, and is approximately 40 miles long. Motorsport fans will find a special attraction at Bedford Speedway: it is the oldest still-active dirt track in Pennsylvania.
The history of the Broad Top Area can also be explored through museums. The Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum displays an extensive collection of mining memorabilia and focuses on the history and heritage of coal mining and steam railroading in the Broad Top region of south-central Pennsylvania. Parts of the Omni Bedford Springs Resort date back to 1796; the resort was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991.
Choosing the Right Type of Accommodation
When looking for accommodation in the destination area, it helps to first determine the pace of travel you want. A culture-focused trip can combine museums, historic buildings and regional heritage. For a more active stay, Shawnee Lake, hiking trails or one of the driving routes can take center stage. Those traveling with different interests can spread these highlights across several days of excursions and choose a holiday apartment or holiday home based on which experiences they want to define their vacation.
For further orientation, you can also visit the destination pages for Bedford and Breezewood.
For the main travel overview: Pennsylvania.
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