William Penn was granted a charter from England’s King Charles II to create the state of Pennsylvania. To celebrate the 344-year old charter, many state sites are offering free admission on Sunday.
On March 4, 1681, Pennsylvania was created when England’s King Charles II granted a charter to William Penn. The charter is often referred to as Pennsylvania’s birth certificate.
To celebrate the 345 year-old charter, and the creation of the commonwealth, more than a dozen of the historic sites and museums along the state’s Trails of History will offer free admission on Sunday, March 8. In addition, the 1681 charter, written on parchment using iron gall ink, will be on display from 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Pennsylvania State Archives facility on Sixth Street in Harrisburg.
The following historic sites and museums are offering free admission on Sunday. Check their websites for operating hours and other details:
- Brandywine Battlefield Park, Chadds Ford
- Cornwall Iron Furnace, Cornwall
- Drake Well Museum, Titusville
- Eckley Miners’ Village, Weatherly
- Ephrata Cloister, Ephrata
- Erie Maritime Museum, Erie
- Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Lancaster
- Pennsbury Manor, Morrisville
- Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton
- Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, Ulysses
- Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg
- Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg
- State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg
