Landis Valley’s mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret Pennsylvania German material culture from 1740 through 1940. We accomplish this through collections, education, our Farm Program, and the Heirloom Seed Project.
As a visitor to a working museum, you will watch our mission be carried out every day. You will see the artistry and craftsmanship in Pennsylvania German artifacts housed in our Farm Machinery and Tool Barn and Collections Gallery and showcased in the Visitor Center. You will learn how tools used every day from interpreters and craftspeople in select buildings in the village. Thanks to the Heirloom Seed Project, you can enjoy the grounds landscaped with seeds planted from varieties handed down through generations of Amish and other Pennsylvania German families. You’ll take all of it in on a leisurely stroll around our forty-acre village area while interacting with animals in our Farm Program.
Interested in seeing what’s happening when you visit? Check out our calendar of events and activities at this link: https://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/calendar-of-events/
Almost a century ago, Henry K. and George D. Landis sought to collect and preserve the art, history, and material culture of their people, the Pennsylvania Germans. The result is their legacy, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum.
Throughout their lives, the Landis Brothers were collectors. As they aged and the world changed, these forward-thinking men saw the need to collect and preserve their material culture before it was gone. The result? A rich, multi-faceted collection of Pennsylvania German artifacts protected, preserved, and interpreted by a highly trained curatorial staff. Explore this collection through exhibits and galleries at Landis Valley.
One thing the Landis Brothers didn’t think of as they created their rural life museum was collecting the plant life around them. Thankfully, their neighboring Amish and Mennonite families saved treasured varieties of tomatoes, beans, squash, and other vegetables and ornamentals from their gardens. Starting in the mid-1980’s, the museum expanded its collection by growing and preserving seed varieties from these Pennsylvania German families. Today, a team of dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers and staff grow and save this important genetic material for future generations.
Interested in learning more about what we do? Visit our historic buildings and talk to people who use some of the tools and practice many of the arts that the Landis Brothers collected. Wander among the gardens tended by members of the Heirloom Seed Project. Meet the animals that call this special place home. Plan your day here using our convenient map and enjoy this quiet cocoon of Pennsylvania German history amid the bustling and vibrant Lancaster County.
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