Visiting Harrisburg, PA

Pennsylvania

April 2025

History and Community in Midtown Harrisburg

In Midtown, Harrisburg, we started at Broad Street Market, one of the United States’ oldest market houses. This indoor market offers locally grown produce, baked goods, and other fresh foods dating back to 1860. We noticed that the market remains the community’s primary gathering place.

Afterward, we strolled through Midtown to the Susquehanna River. At the waterfront, we entered the Sunken Garden. Several memorials near the garden are dedicated to the Holocaust, Military Veterans, and Firefighters.

Today, the neighborhood shows a clear recovery from its decline in the 1970s and 1980s. Multiple historic homes were beautifully renovated. And on this beautiful day, many blossoming trees, of course, also added to Midtown’s renewed charm.

The Beauty of Pennsylvania's State Capitol

Pennsylvania’s State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg is a stunning building. Among all the capitols we’ve seen, this one stands out due to its impressive size, detailed designs, and beautiful artwork both inside and outside. The dome is inspired by Michelangelo’s work at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome; the grand stairway in the rotunda is modeled after the Grand Opera House in Paris. At its dedication on October 4, 1906, President Roosevelt praised the building as “the handsomest building I ever saw.” Almost 120 years later, that still rings true.

Harrisburg's Riverfront Charm

We concluded our visit in Downtown Harrisburg with a walk along the riverfront, following the Susquehanna River, the longest non-navigable river in the United States. While we took a break for a quick lunch in Riverfront Park overlooking the river, a little creature peeked out of its hole and kept us company for a while! At first, it seemed a bit shy, but then it got increasingly curious, especially when I started eating my apple!

Overlooking the river is the John Harris–Simon Cameron Mansion, one of the oldest houses in Harrisburg. The house overlooks the river since 1766. It was built by John Harris Jr., whose father was one of the first settlers in the area and the city’s namesake. We continued along the waterfront area, part of the Capitol Area Greenbelt. I especially found the bridges spectacular. When these bridges were built, they were considered significant engineering achievements; each is more than half a mile long.

Stepping Back in Time at Fort Hunter

Thanks to the vision of Margaret Wister Meigs, who wanted to create a museum of American history, and the incredible generosity of her children in giving the property to Dauphin County, we could step back in time at Fort Hunter. This site, once home to the Susquehannock and Delaware tribes and later the location of a colonial mill and fort, has been beautifully preserved. Adding to its character is the magnificent sycamore or Buttonwood tree. As one of the oldest trees in the state – estimated to be over 300 years old – this giant has witnessed all the changes in the area.