History + Heritage in Washington County

In 1781, Washington County was the first to name itself after General George Washington, even before he was president. The U.S. Department of the Interior has designated Washington County a "Preserve America Community," an honor that recognizes the community's role in preserving the treasures of the past for all to see.

Washington County is home to 16,000 years of history, starting with the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life. Meadowcroft Rockshelter, the oldest site of human habitation in North America, provides a unique glimpse into the lives of prehistoric hunters and gatherers. Meadowcroft Village recreates the charming qualities of a typical 19th-century village. And the 16th-century Indian Village takes you 400 years into the past to experience what life was like for the Eastern Woodland Indians.

Other historic sites in the county include early-American houses that tell tales of the Whiskey Rebellion and the Underground Railroad. And examples of the region’s history of glass manufacturing can be found at the Duncan and Miller Glass Museum.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum can take you to a bygone era as you ride on a beautifully restored trolley. Or you can simply travel into the past on America’s first National Road. (Don’t forget to watch for 22 charming covered bridges.)