Landis Valley Museum was begun in the late 19th century when Pennsylvania German brothers George and Henry Landis realized that the industrial revolution signaled an end to rural folk life. They dedicated their lives to collecting items to preserve the Pennsylvania German culture and, in the 1920s, opened a roadside museum in their barn.
Today, this living history museum is operated by the state in the original, preserved crossroads village where the brothers lived in a Victorian-style home with their parents, Emma and Henry H., and sister Nettie Mae.
The Landis brothers wanted people to learn about, appreciate and remember the unique heritage of the Pennsylvania Germans. More than 20 buildings are open to the public and seasonal events celebrate Pennsylvania German contributions, such as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, apple pie and log cabins, to the fabric of American culture.
