State College

State College offers different ways to explore art, history and science: self-guided tours through historic districts, a five-day arts festival, hands-on exhibits and an evening program at the Palmer Museum of Art. The Bellefonte Central Rail Trail is another special discovery. As you plan your trip, consider which of these experiences interest you most and what you would like to focus on during your days here.

History on self-guided tours

If you’re interested in the development of neighborhoods and estates, you can include the self-guided tours in the Homes-Foster/Highlands Historic District and the College Heights Historic District. They offer insight into the history of the districts and the contributing properties. The focus is not just on individual buildings: the development of a district and the properties that contributed to it are also part of the story. These tours offer a different way to experience State College than a day of art events or science exhibits. You can decide whether you’d like to learn more about the city’s history or prefer a program with a mix of artistic and hands-on experiences.

Art, music and hands-on activities at the festival

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts brings together exhibitions, performances and other events over five days. More than 300 artists from across the United States take part in the juried Sidewalk Sale & Exhibition. The festival also features more than 60 performances by regional touring and local bands. Visual art and music offer different focuses, so you don’t have to limit yourself to just one kind of cultural event.

At the street painting event, you can watch artists at work. The festival also includes an annual banner competition and exhibition. These formats present art as more than a finished exhibition: street painting makes the creative process part of the experience, while the banners entered in the competition are later displayed in an exhibition.

The five-day festival also includes a 5K and a 10-mile race with the Nittany Valley Running Club, Schlow Library’s BookFest, and a dedicated Children & Youth Day to kick things off. If you’re traveling with children, you can mark the opening day as a special event. The two races differ considerably in distance, while BookFest and Children & Youth Day add their own distinct elements to the festival program.

Art and science in different formats

The Palmer Museum of Art’s evening program often includes pop-up tours and gallery conversations, Art After Hours, Creative Studio Sessions, workshops and talks by artists. The formats range from discussions about art to workshops and events featuring artists. If you’d like to make art the focus of an evening, this range gives you several ways to engage with the museum.

Discovery Space offers a different focus. More than 45 exhibits are designed to encourage play, exploration and, in particular, experimentation; each exhibit relates to a scientific or mathematical concept. This gives you specific topics to keep in mind as you explore, rather than treating science as an abstract idea. The Marine Life Center is home to marine animals such as starfish and hermit crabs, as well as marine fish, including a juvenile round stingray. This part of the center complements the exhibits on science and math with vivid examples of marine life.

A trail through the arboretum

Nature and trails can also be part of your trip: the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail runs through the Arboretum at Penn State. Whether you’re choosing between art, history, science or a stay that includes a trail outing, State College offers a range of themes to explore. You can discover other places via Port Matilda, Pine Glen, Spring Mills, Pine Grove Mills, Centre Hall and Bellefonte.

For the main trip overview: Centre.