Bedford

Bedford brings together the history of Fort Bedford, museums, activities for children, and trails through the town. The Fort Bedford Museum features historical exhibits about the fort’s role in the French and Indian War, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the development of the local landscape. Families will also find a variety of hands-on activities for children there.

Fort Bedford and local history

The Fort Bedford Museum was built downtown, near the site of Fort Bedford, which was constructed in 1758. Its exhibits cover both historical events and the development of the landscape. More than 4,000 objects from Bedford’s past complement the historical themes. Specific artifacts are presented alongside the broader contexts explored by the museum.

The original outlines of Fort Bedford can also be seen in Bedford: they are located in a small park behind the Anderson House, 137 E Pitt Street, and can be reached via the walking trail beside the river. This site makes the outlines themselves a focus of the visit and complements the museum’s exhibits with an outdoor experience.

Museums and hands-on activities

The National Museum of the American Coverlet offers a different cultural perspective. This independent, year-round institution is dedicated to historic American woven coverlets and is housed in Bedford’s former school building, dating from 1859. Both the history of coverlets and the building itself are therefore among the subjects you can explore during your visit.

The museum holds the Coverlet College seminars annually. The program includes presentations, hands-on activities, and a demonstration and discussion session. For travel planning, this is a distinct cultural option alongside the exhibits at the Fort Bedford Museum; the seminars take place annually.

At the Fort Bedford Museum, children can take part in a scavenger hunt and use a craft kit to make a Native American bracelet. There is also a hands-on measuring activity about Conestoga wagons and a Lincoln Log building table. The activities offer different ways to explore: searching, creating, measuring, and building. Families can take these options into account when planning whether to add such activities to their museum visit.

Old Bedford Village is also located near Bedford. There, historical interpreters demonstrate the trades and crafts of village residents in preserved buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The visit offers a different focus: the Fort Bedford Museum centers on exhibits and objects, while Old Bedford Village features demonstrations in historic buildings.

Trails and getting there

The Shuster Way Heritage Trail currently connects the Omni Bedford Springs Resort with downtown Bedford and Fort Bedford Park. It uses an unpaved trail as well as public roads and sidewalks. This combination of trail and town sections offers practical guidance for anyone who would like to explore Bedford on foot.

Bedford can be reached via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-70, State Route 99—the north–south Route 220 corridor—and I-68 from the south. When choosing your vacation rental, you can first consider which of the cultural experiences and trails described here you would like to shape your stay. You can also discover Breezewood as another destination.

For the broader travel overview: Bedford.