Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 colonies; it hosted the Continental Congress in 1776 and the Constitutional Convention in 1787. On 12 December 1787, it became the second state to enter the union. It is a state rich with history and culture - you can trace the famous crack of the Liberty Bell or trace the route along the Underground Railroad.

William Penn grew up and spent most of his life in England, but his influence in American Colonial history is undeniable. After immigrating from England, where he was a Quaker, he was instrumental in the foundation of the colony of Pennsylvania in 1862. He was one of the pioneers of the Friends in those years.

If you visit the Philadelphia area a one hour drive will land you in Lancaster County, better known as Amish Country. Many Quaker and Mennonite families settled there, and their families reach back for generations. The Amish are a gentle and private people, whose lives reflect the tranquility of the past rather than the hectic pace of the present. Sample the food, and enjoy the countryside.

In the western part of Pennsylvania the influence of Pittsburgh is dominant. The collapse of the once thriving steel industry forced Pittsburgh to completely remake itself, and it has turned into beautiful, visitor-friendly city. It's surrounding countryside features a number of covered bridges, and vestiges of old coal mines, as well as pleasant mountain roads with scenic vistas.

The Great Flood of 1889, now known as The Johnstown Flood, was one of our worst disasters. Johnstown was a steel town, much like a smaller Pittsburgh. During the night on May 31, a heavy rainstorm overcame a dirt dam 14 miles above the town. A wave of water swept through Johnstown with no warning, causing great devastation and death.

South Fork Dam was the one that broke that day in 1889, and it still stands as if frozen in time. A modern museum sits just above it, and is well worth the visit. Take the trip to Johnstown from there, and step into the past. The Flood Museum there is old, yet mesmerizing in its exhibits and realism.

As the sixth most populous city in America, and one of the oldest, Philadelphia bristles with history and culture. The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are the obvious first stops, but there is much more, including the Art Museum, Franklin Institute, and the Reading Terminal Market. The hoagies and cheesesteaks justly famous, but there's so much more. Visit and enjoy some great dining.

The nation's first transcontinental road, US Route 30, spans Pennsylvania. Known as the Lincoln Highway, begin your drive at Gettysburg and head west you'll encounter living history all along the way. The road is interesting, the small towns it passes through are fascinating. But don't leave Gettysburg until you have toured the battlefields and soaked in one of the most monumental events of the Civil War. You will leave a different person.