Pennsylvania has played a huge role in American history, but its famous landmarks go way beyond old buildings and battlefields.
Across the state, you can ride to incredible skyline views, explore a natural canyon, tour an architectural masterpiece, and even spend the day surrounded by chocolate.
You’ll also find powerful memorials, grand government buildings, peaceful waterfront scenery, and places connected to stories you probably learned about in school.
If you’re ready to see which spots deserve a place on your Pennsylvania bucket list, here are 9 famous landmarks you should visit at least once.
1. Independence National Historical Park
Independence National Historical Park sits in Philadelphia’s Old City and protects some of America’s most important historic landmarks across more than 54 acres.
Start at Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution was created in 1787, then tour the Assembly Room.
Across the street, see the Liberty Bell, a 2,080-pound symbol of freedom famous for its large crack, then explore Congress Hall, where Congress met from 1790 to 1800.
You can also visit Franklin Court and see exhibits at the Benjamin Franklin Museum for another look into the area’s fascinating history.
2. Hersheypark and Hershey’s Chocolate World
For something completely different, head to Hershey, where Hersheypark and Hershey’s Chocolate World bring plenty of fun to this famous chocolate town.
Across Hersheypark’s 121 acres, you can enjoy more than 70 attractions, including the 210-foot-tall Candymonium and Wildcat’s Revenge, which reaches 62 mph.
Next door, Hershey’s Chocolate World lets you ride the free Hershey’s Chocolate Tour to see how cocoa beans become chocolate and create your own candy bar.
All that fun traces back to Milton S. Hershey, who opened the original park in 1906 as a place for his chocolate factory employees and the community to enjoy.
3. Pennsylvania State Capitol
After all that chocolate-fueled excitement, drive 25 minutes to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, where grand architecture and state history take center stage.
Completed in 1906, the building rises 272 feet beneath a dome inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, topped by the gilded brass Commonwealth statue.
Step inside to see the huge Rotunda, colorful Moravian tile floors, stained-glass windows, marble staircases, and murals by Pennsylvania artist Violet Oakley.
To see even more, join a guided tour to visit the Senate and House chambers and the State Supreme Court Room, then explore the surrounding Capitol Complex.
4. Gettysburg National Military Park
From the Capitol, it’s a 45-minute drive to Gettysburg National Military Park, where one of the Civil War’s most important battles took place from July 1 to 3, 1863.
You can explore more than 6,000 acres by car, bike, or guided tour, with stops at Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, Cemetery Ridge, and the field of Pickett’s Charge.
Inside the park museum, you can check out Civil War relics and interactive exhibits, then see the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting, which measures 377 feet around and 42 feet high.
Don’t miss Gettysburg National Cemetery, where thousands of Union soldiers and veterans are buried, and Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in 1863.
5. Pine Creek Gorge
About 2 hours and 40 minutes from Gettysburg, you’ll reach Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania’s “Grand Canyon,” stretching 47 miles through Tioga State Forest.
At Leonard Harrison State Park and Colton Point State Park, it is more than 800 feet deep and roughly 4,000 feet across, with scenic overlooks from both sides.
For a closer look, hike the 1-mile Turkey Path at Leonard Harrison, which drops about 750 feet into the gorge and passes several waterfalls along the way.
You can also bike along the 62-mile Pine Creek Rail Trail, watch for bald eagles, and visit in October to see the surrounding forest burst with red, orange, and gold.
6. Flight 93 National Memorial
Leaving the gorge behind, drive 2.5 hours to Flight 93 National Memorial, which honors the 40 passengers and crew members who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
This is where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after those on board fought back against four hijackers, preventing the plane from reaching its target.
Today, you can walk through Memorial Plaza along the debris field to the white marble Wall of Names, then visit the Visitor Center for exhibits and artifacts.
Make sure to stop at the 93-foot-tall Tower of Voices, which holds 40 wind chimes, with each one representing a life remembered at this moving memorial.
7. Fallingwater
A 65-minute drive from Flight 93 National Memorial brings you to Fallingwater in Mill Run, one of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous creations.
Built from 1936 to 1939 as a weekend home for Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann, the house extends above the flowing waters of Bear Run.
Book a guided tour to step inside, walk along its cantilevered terraces, see custom-made furniture, and learn how the design connects with the surrounding landscape.
Between its dramatic waterfall setting and incredible views from nearly every angle, it’s no surprise this place became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
8. Duquesne Incline
After admiring Fallingwater, drive 75 minutes to Pittsburgh and hop aboard the Duquesne Incline, a historic cable railway that climbs Mount Washington.
Dating back to 1877, the incline takes you along a nearly 800-foot track in its original wooden cable cars, making the short ride an experience in itself.
Once you reach the upper station, check out the museum about Pittsburgh’s history, then head to the observation deck for sweeping views across the city.
To make those views even more memorable, visit around sunset and watch the skyline light up before taking the bright red car back down.
9. Presque Isle State Park
End your Pennsylvania landmark tour at Presque Isle State Park, about 2 hours from the Duquesne Incline, where a 3,112-acre sandy peninsula extends into Lake Erie.
With 13 beaches spread along 7 miles of shoreline, there are plenty of places to swim or enjoy the lake views, so plan to spend a few hours by the water.
For a change of pace, bike the 13.5-mile Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose Trail around the peninsula, where you’ll pass the historic Presque Isle Lighthouse along the way.
And if wildlife is more your thing, migration season is the best time to visit, when you can spot some of the park’s more than 300 recorded bird species.
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