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    Ephrata Cloister Landmarks & Historical Buildings Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Ephrata Cloister

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    Large building used for sleeping meditation and other stuff
    Wendy P.

    Wow this place was awesome if you like religious history and culture. We got to the museum which was very informative and watched video about their history. We got here too late for the last guided tour but could see the outside of the buildings. Staff nice and clean place. Would come back for the tour if I get back up here.

    room for manuscript copying and illuminating
    Mama T.

    When you walk through the gates, it feels like you've been transported back in time. Everything is rustic because everything except the visitor's center is original. You will witness German ingenuity in their architecture and you will see what it's like to live according to the severe rules Conrad Beissel had worked out for his followers. It is a testament that America was truly a place where people exercised religious freedom. The Brethren was also credited for copying and illuminating manuscripts, printing books, and composition of original hymns with at least three women credited as their first documented women composers. It is a peaceful walk along its grounds but make sure you have a tour guide to help explain the little details and share anecdotes that make a place truly come alive.

    Christopher C.

    First some history: Ephrata Cloister is the brainchild of a guy named Conrad Beissel. Beissel grew up in late 17th century Germany where ongoing wars and the ability of the monarchy to change the official religion of the country based on their personal preference led him to join a group called the Pietists who obviously were not sanctioned by the church. Beissel is eventually found in conflict with the law and gets banished from the motherland. The natural place for him to go was Pennsylvania with the religious freedom offered by William Penn's policies. After spending some time in the Germantown (go figure) area of Philadelphia, Beissel makes his way to the Lancaster area where he joins up a group called the Brethren. The Brethern were an Anabaptist group which offered admission to the faith to those individuals who had reached maturity. In today's world Anabaptist is usually the religion most associated with the Amish and the period of admission to the church around the time of maturity is known as Rumspringa. Eventually Beissel walks away from his leadership role in the group to live a hermits life by himself in the area that is now called Ephrata. What Beissel didn't count on was that his charismatic personality and teachings had drawn a small but loyal following that followed him to PA's frontier in essence starting the community that became known as Ehprata Cloister. From EC's website: " What began as a hermitage for a small group of devoted individuals grew into a thriving community of nearly 80 celibate members supported by an estimated 200 family members from the region at its zenith in the mid-18th-century. During that period much of the activity surrounded the charismatic founder and leader, Conrad Beissel. His theology, a hybrid of pietism and mysticism, encouraged celibacy, Sabbath worship, Anabaptism, and the ascetic life, yet provided room for families, limited industry, and creative expression. The community became known for its self-composed a cappella music, Germanic calligraphy known as Frakturschriften, and the complete publishing center which included a paper mill, printing office, and book bindery." Members ate one small vegetarian meal per day. Members slept six hours per night on small wooden blanks. Those six hours were from 9pm-Midnight then from 2AM-5AM while the two hours in between were spent on watch for the second coming of Christ since Beissel was convinced that would happen during his lifetime. The rest of their days were spent praying and doing their assigned work tasks. From EC's website: "With the death of Beissel in 1768 the society quickly declined. Peter Miller, successor to Beissel, recognized that the monastic life was no longer attractive to new generations. He wrote to Benjamin Franklin saying, "the mind of Americans is bent another way." By 1813 the last of the celibate members died, and the following year the remaining members of the married congregation formed the German Seventh Day Baptist Church. Poorer members of the Church moved into many of the original buildings on the Cloister property and altered the spaces to suit their needs. With these new residents came bits of furniture and household items; however they also made use of the furnishings that remained in the buildings. In many cases 18th-century furniture was given a coat of paint, cut down to fit a space, or repaired with disregard to original construction methods or materials." Eventually membership in the church devolved enough in the early 20th century plus lawsuits amongst the remaining members caused the charter of the church to be revoked by the commonwealth. The remaining 28 acres were sold off to the commonwealth and a twenty year restoration project on the remaining original buildings along with a few reproductions which eventually lead to the tourist attraction that exists today. If you go: Current hours are Monday - Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm with tours starting at 10:00 am, 12:00, 2:30, and 3:30 pm. Sunday: Noon - 5 with tours starting at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 pm. During January and February the Cloister is closed on Monday & Tuesday. EC is open daily with the exception of Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day. Adults (ages 12-64) $10.00, Senior Citizens (ages 65 and above) and motor clubs (such as AAA) $9.00, Youth (ages 3-11) $6.00, Children under age 3 are free. There are also a few special events throughout the year that have slightly modified admission prices. The tour starts in the visitor center which has some original from the era/community and then you get the fifteen minute video which is NPS caliber and overall does a good enough job explaining the community along with Beissel. After the video you are taken over to the Sister's House and the Meetinghouse (both original buildings from the 1740's) before being cut loose to see the rest of the grounds on your own.

    Ephrata grounds
    Betsy B.

    This area was settled by a German religious group that owned a large piece of property and had a conservative lifestyle that included sleeping on wooden boards with a wood block for a pillow. There were originally a number of buildings but some no longer exist but remaining ones can be viewed. The last member of the group died and the state of Pennsylvania took it over and it is open to the public. They offer a tour where you can go into a couple of the buildings and learn about the history and lifestyle as well as a short film that you view first. It was quite interesting and the grounds were lovely. Fee is $10.00, seniors and AAA is $9.00, youth 3-11 is $6.00 and under 3 free. There was a nice museum gift shop that had some local and unique items.

    Denise F.

    Great historical experience that brings you back in time. You get to walk inside 9 of the original buildings from the 1700's.

    entering the grounds
    Matthew S.

    i cannot find the words for how beautiful this place is. it is simply one of the most fascinating and gorgeous yet haunting places i've ever visited. established in the early 18th century by a German Christian mystic it operated as an independent religious community in the Pennsylvanian countryside populated by celibate aesthetics alongside devout landowning families. many of the original buildings are still standing but the grounds itself apparently looks a lot different than it did in the 1700's (this happened in the 60's when it was turned into a tourist spot). if you have any interest in religious studies, American religious history or American history in general you'll find the Ephrata Cloisters an exhilarating experience. i'm now reading a book about the place and cannot get enough of it.

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    Service was nice each time we went. We just didn't care for the dishes we tried over several visits.

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    7 years ago

    Really interesting historical site. Definitely recommend the guided tour - the tour guide was exceptional and really personable!

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    Review Highlights - Ephrata Cloister

    The natural place for him to go was Pennsylvania with the religious freedom offered by William Penn's policies.

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    Ephrata Cloister - landmarks - Updated June 2026

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