274 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Pennsylvania - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mütter Museum

America's most famous museum of medical oddities, and home to the remains of Einstein's brain.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Eastern State Penitentiary

World's first "penitentiary," meant to be humane, drove men insane.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mount Moriah Cemetery

An abandoned cemetery lies in ruins as the surrounding forest swallows it whole.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

A layered tribute to the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar.

Aristes, Pennsylvania

Centralia

A toxic ghost town sitting atop a massive coal fire.

Hellam, Pennsylvania

The Seven Gates of Hell

Hellam Township is reputed to feature seven remote gates, which when passed through in the right order, open an entrance to hell.

Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania

The Sonorous Stones of Ringing Rocks Park

Mysterious rocks that ring musically when struck.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wagner Free Institute

A rare view of a preserved Victorian science museum.

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Unique
Food & Drink
in Pennsylvania

Potato Doughnuts

The first American doughnut chain used spuds.

Pumpple Cake

Called the turducken of desserts, this multilayered cake hides two pies inside.

Shoofly Pie

Mornings in Amish country once called for pie-cake and coffee.

Clear Toy Candy

A Victorian favorite is hanging on in Pennsylvania.

See all 20 things to eat in Pennsylvania See all 20 things to eat in Pennsylvania

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Stories
About Pennsylvania

An Eastern hellbender photographed in the Hiwassee River in Tennessee.

To Protect Pennsylvania's Hellbender, Teenagers Made It the State Amphibian

The Eastern hellbender looks like a long, slimy potato and is sometimes called a snot otter.

by Ashley Stimpson

October 21, 2019

Though the Amish reject much modern technology, phones have made their way into the community.

A Hopping Hotline Brings the Amish and Mennonites Together

The dial-in conferencing service is a popular hub for theology chat and tractor-related recommendations.

by Kelsey Osgood

The Easter egg tree custom, pictured here in Saalfeld, Germany, gained some ground in the United States.

How Easter Egg Trees Almost Became an American Tradition

Like the Christmas tree, they were probably a German import.

The old pressed plants can help crack contemporary climate and environmental puzzles, if you know where to look.

A Day in the Life of a Pennsylvania Plant Detective

Researchers are comparing age-old herbaria with muddy riverbanks to track decades of ecological change.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

August 28, 2018

Rohman's Inn between 1930 and 1945.

The Historic Pub That Holds Its Own Olympics

Rohman's Inn is the last relic of a buried-and-gone amusement park.

Investigating Pennsylvania's Very Particular Penchant for Potato Chips

Turns out there is an unusually high concentration of snack-food producers in this state.

by Dan Nosowitz

October 24, 2017

Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, is nowhere near the shore, nor New Jersey.

Why There's a Jersey Shore in the Middle of Pennsylvania

Hundreds of miles from the ocean, this Jersey Shore maintains a far quieter existence.

by Eric Grundhauser

August 15, 2017

A later engraving of the Valley Forge encampment.

A Stash of 30 Hidden Bayonets Was Discovered in Valley Forge

“No one has ever found this many together.”

by Sarah Laskow

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