West Chester: History, Aviation, and Special Discoveries

West Chester offers plenty of reasons to explore the history of Chester County, aviation, and a distinctive park tradition. Experiences range from permanent exhibitions and a family-friendly aviation museum to a 90-minute ride on the West Chester Railroad. Families who enjoy discovering a variety of subjects can decide which experiences they would like to shape their stay.

Discover History and Architecture

The West Chester Historic District was expanded in 2005 and covers nearly 80 percent of the Borough of West Chester. Its size gives the town’s historic character particular prominence. Chester County’s “Town Tours and Village Walks” program also provides access to historic, architectural, and cultural resources: Each year, volunteers lead visitors and showcase these resources in West Chester.

Those who want to learn more about the region can visit the Chester County History Center (CCHC) museum, which features permanent exhibitions on the roots and beginnings of Chester County through its development. The CCHC’s museum collection in West Chester also includes more than 70,000 objects. The collection and permanent exhibitions offer two different perspectives: the figure describes the number of objects, while the exhibitions tell the story of the county’s development through thematic displays.

A Hands-On Aviation Experience

The American Helicopter Museum & Education Center is a family-friendly aviation museum in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Visitors can climb aboard many rotorcraft on display and experience what it is like to actually fly them. This makes a visit quite different from a museum tour focused mainly on exhibitions to read and view. Families can pair the aviation theme with the historical insights at the CCHC or make either museum the focus of their visit.

Festival and Wetlands at Everhart Park

The May Day Festival of the Arts takes place at Everhart Park every year on the first Sunday in May. If you would like to include the festival in your stay, you can take its date into account when planning your trip. Wetlands now occupy the site of the park’s former pond. Everhart Park is therefore known both for its arts festival and for the transformation of the former pond site into today’s wetlands; both details give the park its distinctive character.

A Railroad Excursion

The West Chester Railroad offers 90-minute round trips between Market Street in West Chester, Chester County, and the village of Glen Mills, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The precise duration and the two destinations give the ride a clearly defined scope. It’s a different way to spend time in the region than visiting a museum or exploring the borough’s history. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in West Chester, you can consider whether museums and local history, the arts festival, or the railroad excursion best suit your travel plans.

Discover More Places

If you’d like to compare more destinations, you can also find Kennett Square, Malvern, Elverson, Exton, Coatesville, Phoenixville, Downingtown and Paoli here.

For the broader travel overview: Chester.