CENTER CITY SIGHTS
Welcome
Center City Sights
Whether area resident or out-of-town visitor, we bid you a warm welcome to Harrisburg’s Center City, the region’s center of commerce, transportation, finance, special events, dining, entertainment, the arts and government. With what is regarded as the most scenic inland waterfront in the Nation, Harrisburg is rich in the history and heritage of both country and state. In Center City, the natural beauty, architecture and year-round activities are reflective of both the past and our present progress.
Home to Native Americans for 8000 years, what is now Harrisburg was first explored by the French and Swedes in the 1600s. The first permanent European settlement consisted of a tavern and trading post established by John Harris Sr., sometime after 1704. His son, John Harris, Jr., the founder of Harrisburg, created the ferry service, giving rise to the village’s original name of Harris’ Ferry. The first plan for the town was laid out in 1785 by Harris’ son-in law, William Maclay, who later became one of Pennsylvania’s first two United States Senators.
Incorporated as a borough in 1791, and later established as a city in 1860, Harrisburg is the first and only Seat of Dauphin County, which was created in 1785. The County was named for the crown prince and heir to the French throne in honor of France’s sympathy for the United States during the American Revolution. From pioneer and Colonial times to the present day, Harrisburg has been in the forefront of changes in American society and commerce, and a leader, participant and witness to the great events and development which have charted and mirrored the dynamics and growth of our Commonwealth and Nation.
Many of the sites listed in this brochure have been either newly built or extensively restored in very recent years. Considering the real estate dynamics that have resulted in the rise of Center City’s impressive skyline, it is hard to imagine so successful a turnaround from the several decades of decline that existed before the early 1980s. Aggressive economic development initiatives have produced in Harrisburg a substantial level of new investment and renewal exceeding $2.9 billion in the past 20 years. With this progress, making yet another era in local history, has come renewed vision, vitality and excitement. Center City’s marvelous amenities, events and opportunities greet everyone. Welcome to Center City and enjoy all it has to offer!
Stephen R. Reed
Mayor
