It is truly a gem to stumble upon a tomb of an unknown solider. My husband found this location on…read moreroadsideamerica.com, nestled in a residential area in the town of Bethlehem, Pa, found between 1st Ave & Market St. It is believed that the soldiers buried here fought during the Revolutionary War. The American Revolution took place between 1775-1783. It occurred between the 13 North American colonies and colonial government (who supported the British Crown) and the fight for independence from Britain. A lot of history worthy things occurred from this timeline which included the congress vote to adopt the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Battle of Saratoga (in NY) and the Treaty of Paris. Obviously there was a whole lot more going on during this time period and highly recommend that you do your research and do this war justice in learning the history. After the Declaration of Independence was established, General George Washington (yes that Washington) and his army were driven out of New York by the British, and across New Jersey, into Pennsylvania. Because of that, numerous of hospitals were established in New Jersey and Philadelphia. General Washington moved north to the Lehigh Valley, and so other hospitals had to be established, including a hospital in Bethlehem, which became the main hospital in this area (which now is part of the Moravian College). Bethlehem was the perfect place to set up camp and a hospital as it was far enough from the front lines that was beyond the reach of the British. Unfortunately as wounded soldiers were kept in such close quarters, illness spread. Unfortunately there were many soldiers that did not make it back to Philadelphia and were eventually buried here in Bethlehem. In 1932, a single set of remains was placed here at this site. And then in 1996, three more unknown soldiers were added, as you can imagine that over time, homeowners may discover unknown soldiers when they accidentally dig up remains. On the tomb, a plaque reads "Within this crypt rest the bones of an unknown soldier in the War for Independence. He was one of more than five hundred men who died in the Continental Hospital here at Bethlehem and were buried on this hillside." May the remains of four Revolutionary War soldiers lie in peace.

This reminded me of the stories my grandpa used to tell of when he fought in the civil war. When I…read moreentered the tomb I couldn't help, but start to cry. I felt the dark spirit of the unknown soldier enter my body and take over my soul and mind. I can still feel him with me today, he guides me. Highly Recommended, great for the kids

Wow. What a unique, random gem and historic property. What is Fonthill and why is there a castle in…read moreDoylestown, Pennsylvania? Fonthill Castle was the home of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. (Also in Doylestown are two more Mercer buildings you can tour - the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works building, the business Mercer ran and where most of the tiles in the castle were produced.) Henry Mercer seems like he was an interesting guy, and you can see that in his home - 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 200 windows, who knows how many staircases...! And designed and decorated in a way I've never seen anywhere else. The castle is an early example of poured-in-place concrete building and is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles. And there are, of course, Moravia tiles (and some historic and international tiles that he collected during his life) throughout the house - almost more than you could imagine. We visited last Saturday to experience their "Fonthill Castle Holiday Lights Meander Experience," which allows you to visit the castle through a self-guided experience (there were staff in various rooms who were happy to answer questions) and enjoy a series of Christmas trees on display throughout the home. I definitely enjoyed the experience but am definitely planning a return visit to see the castle in better light (not at night in the dark - which was perfect for the Christmas tree experience) - they offer 60-minute guided tours though the house for most of the year! The castle is pretty wild, and I look forward to visiting it again and experiencing it in a new way. If you are interested in architecture, art, crafts, the Arts and Crafts design movement, or just quirky, unusual places, definitely add Fonthill to your list and check it out!

Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!read more

While the mansion is still undergoing renovations so we were not able to include that and so my…read morereview may change in the future. Don't expect to take even a full afternoon visiting but it is a lovely preserved estate around the city. There's some goats, and the grounds are enjoyable to take an hour or so to walk with nice historical signs for context. There is some parking but it likely gets packed in high traffic times. I can't put it in my top gardens available for Philadelphia, it's good to have treasures like these to keep the sense of history and love of horticulture the area has long held.

This is a really cute hidden local treasure - very charming and pretty. We had some wedding photos…read moretaken here, so it will always have a special place in our hearts! Lots of cool spots outside for photos, and the inside is really cute as well. I'm not sure they usually open the house, but the grounds are very nice to walk around. We stopped by again recently and had some time to reminisce before heading out because it was too cold.

Awesome wedding venue!!! So well run, quick bartenders and food service. We were greeted by alpacas…read moreand beautiful scenery, shaded, grassy areas perfect for socializing with the crew. The cocktail hour was held in a separate building from the rest of the ceremony. There were a ton of food options for the cocktail hour. Charcuterie, a pasta bar with a delicious mushroom bolognese, and lots of drink options. Everything was beautiful, lots of decks and corners to round, and places to gather. Never had to fight anybody for a place to sit or anything. The actual reception room was large, but felt very intimate. The chairs were comfortable. The acoustics were good enough I could hear everybody at my table while the band was still playing. There were plenty of bathrooms. After the sun went down, they started a bonfire outside. There were lots of mosquitos out, though. We only sat out there a couple minutes because we were getting eaten up. I wouldn't expect them to spray the whole property, but I imagine there might be some sort of bug control solution that could work for event nights. Tiki torches? Citronella something? We had so much fun, and Waterloo really was beautiful. I'm sure that most events here play Waterloo by ABBA. It was a crowd pleaser.

This is a "town" lost to time. It is a piece of history that is in desperate need of…read moreacknowledgment and repair. But it is one that should be seen regardless. I have done here for years and it has always been a peaceful walk. I just happened to go up on canal day when a lot of the buildings are open and people are allowed to look around inside them. It is a great doorway to our country's past. I would suggest anyone to go at least once.

I have been disgustingly obsessed with this place for a good 20 years. When I used to live in the…read morearea, I'd drive on lake road just to get a few glimpses - or sneak up on the Matheny side to get a good look. When I saw that Blairsden was being served as the Mansions In May this year, I nearly died. The finest example of Beaux Arts architecture in the US ( built by Carr'ere and Hastings - who also built the New York Public Library & the Frick) So when tickets went up for $50 a piece - I quickly snapped a few up and alerted my wonderful BF (who has no interest in this) of what we were to do on Mother's Day. Turnout was expected to be tremendous, so 25 shuttles were offered to and from the mansion from the Fowler rd parking area. We got there at 12:00 and waited just a few minutes to board. By the time our shuttle was full, there was a good 20 people waiting for the next bus. We entered from the main gates on peapack rd and zipped up to the top of the hill. There were about 100 people waiting to enter the home in front of us - well worth the wait. Each room has been redesigned by interior decorators from around the US. Most of the rooms had tidbits of history here and there. Original sinks, faucets, lighting, fire hose, elevator, etc etc as well as molding, fireplaces, windows, flooring. This house was a masterpiece! I only wish they had spent more on the grounds as you were unable to see the ravine built for the home. Again - this is just for the month of May and all the proceeds to toward a good cause (Morristown Medical Center) GO GO GO!!

Very pleasant grounds, small but beautiful gardens, and lots of signage explaining the history of…read morethe site. Would be a nice place to drop a blanket and have a picnic lunch!

We came here on Community Day in April and I guess coming to a place like this so early in the…read moreSpring, one needs to remind thyself about potential as opposed to what you're actually seeing. Let me explain. They've got a large garden that naturally in April is nothing more than rocks and dirt so you have to imagine what it would look like later on in the year. On the gate they do have a breakdown of what was planted in days of yore but again, you need to use your imagination. There is also a small corncrib next to a few old rusty wheelbarrows that are falling apart. There is the main house on the grounds, the Burnside house, that is sparsely furnished at best and I have read that at certain times of the year you can fully tour it but on Community Day they have tables and chairs on the ground floor for kids arts and crafts, so no tours. The main barn has three parts. The main upstairs part has a collection of older farm equipment along with some pictures of when the building was moved to the site where it currently stands. (No, it's not original to the property by a long shot) The downstairs on the left has a high horsepower wheel that is very interesting and along the lines of what you would see at Mount Vernon in the sixteen sided barn. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oQ6ihOWS5o&feature=c4-overview&list=UUDCmdiGOSAMKYdpe_bybK3w The bottom right houses the stables where the City of Bethlehem keeps their horses for the police's mounted patrol. http://bethlehemmpu.wordpress.com/ The officer on duty that day was great with answering questions from both adults and children about their work with the horses. An unfortunate example of a real turnoff were the women in the Summer Kitchen. They were making some kind of soup/stew that day and several people, myself included, were asking questions and by-in-large they kept giving everyone the Sgt. Schultz answer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVG1q49yPaY That was a real drag but it also wasn't surprising since they seemed more interested in doing what they were doing as opposed to being bothered by the public. This year was the 3rd annual Community Day and to be honest even though I live only about a 1/2 mile from where this takes place I really hadn't heard about it because they poorly promote it. Based on the number of people that we saw I can tell that I'm not the only one who falls into that boat. Maybe next year we'll come back and the women in the Summer Kitchen won't be so grouchy or maybe we'll try to take part in some kind of activity/event there this summer that will show this place off when things are fully cooking. But in the meantime I can't go more than three stars along with giving this place a grade of incomplete.

4/3/26 Visit: Ford's Mansion is just one of many New…read moreJersey's historical sites. The tour is Free! Erik was our tour guide. We started out at the Washington Headquarters Museum. (In the museum, there's a video on Washington's stay in the winter of 1779-80. It'll give you an excellent overview, either before or after your tour). We then walked up a hill to Ford's Mansion. *It's a bit of a hike up the hill. In the mansion, George Washington had established his headquarters during the winter of 1779- 1780. During this winter, there was approximately 96 inches of snow. (I'll never complain about snow again). LOL... The Continental Army camped out about miles away at Jockey Hollow. The home is well preserved and maintained. After the tour of the home, we walked back to the museum. The museum was really wonderful to explore. The museum has a wonderful gift shop. Parking availability is in a small lot and on the street. Whether you're a history buff or not, think you'll enjoy the visit to Ford's Mansion.

PROS: Absolutely amazing! This building is all original and displayed properly. The land is…read morelandscaped well and the tour guide Fred was somewhat friendly. Free parking as well CONS: Almost all of the furniture inside are replicas and you can only come into this building on a tour and not on your own OVERALL: Any history enthusiast will enjoy this house tour! It's free admission, free parking, and there's a lot to see

This is an amazing place to have a time trip to history and to get to know about life at a farm…read morehouse. Lovely place to visit with family, friends or alone. The atmosphere is peaceful and you feel like stepping into a different world, forgetting all the daily hurdles and just enjoying the moment. The staff who works there is really talented on telling about the life at the farm couple of hundreds of years ago, and they tell you some insightful stories and examples of the past. You are also encouraged to ask many questions from the staff and it is great to hear about all the details of everything. There are several farm buildings to visit which you also get to tour, and many animals who you also might get to pet. The farm store is also amazing, selling many interesting items and some crafts from the local artists which are not over priced. Remember to reserve plenty of time (2-3 hrs) and take some picnic items with if needed (there's good spots for a picnic) and a curious mind for a great visit at the historic farm!

As a jaded New Yorker, who's become even more so during the pandemic, Quiet Valley, was just what…read morethe doctor ordered. This 250 year old farm, was last operational in the 1950s. It's now owned by a historical society and largely volunteer run. This is the kind of place that several generations of locals come to volunteer. If I lived nearby, I'd gladly volunteer and would love to lead a tour:-) The farm is quaint, cozy and affordable. It was $12 for adults for their 1.5 hour+ tour and Christmas presentation. $6 for children under 12. The crackling fire wood, the wet leaves crunching under your feet, and the friendly, welcome of the volunteers, who are excellent and clearly love this place, all made my experience five star. This historic farm is two hours from NYC, but worlds away, in a good way. I did a day trip but nearby affordable hotels abound. At the end of the tour, we were lead to their dining room, with a choice of hot cocoa or hot apple cider and two surprise (mine were snickerdoodle and molasses) cookies or a homemade Bavarian style pretzel. Free parking and I learned about the events they offer including farm to table in the summer and spooky nights during Halloween, to name a few. They cook with all the vegetables they grow and serve them at an outdoor meal. Check them out with your friends and family. You'll be glad you did.

Beautiful ground and mansion. We were here on a Saturday morning. We walked around the ground…read morebefore they were open. Paid for the self guided tour of the mansion. The staff here are all very friendly and knowledgeable. Beautiful decoration inside the mansion during Christmas time. Highly recommended!

Led by a very highly skilled federal staff and volunteers…read more Wonderfully kept and truly q great place to visit. A Pike County PA treasure.